2020 Vernon L. Smith Ascending Scholar Prize

The Chairman, Directors, and Officers of the International Foundation for Research in Experimental Economics (IFREE) take pleasure in announcing Dr. Anya Samek, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of California San Diego’s Rady School of Management, as the 2020 recipient of the Vernon L. Smith Ascending Scholar Prize.

Named after Nobel Laureate Vernon L. Smith, and made possible through the generosity of the Rasmuson Foundation and other contributors, the Smith Prize seeks to inspire early-career scholars to emulate Dr. Smith’s joyous zeal for scientific discovery.  Set this year at $50,000, the Smith Prize is a “budding genius” award that recipients may use flexibly to advance social science in whatever manner they choose.

To many, Vernon L. Smith’s career epitomizes success as a social scientist. That career bespeaks commitment to exploring theoretical foundations in economics, social science, and science generally; quantifiable impacts in transforming economics into an experimental and more empirical discipline; collegiality in funding, mentoring, and collaborating with fellow scholars; and curiosity in looking beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries in search of truth.  The Smith Prize hopes to inspire recipients, early in their careers, to set lofty goals for themselves as social science theorists, practitioners, colleagues, mentors, and truth-seekers.

Dr. Samek has emerged as one of the leading young scholars in applying experimental methods to real-world problems in philanthropy, health and education. Her scholarly contributions are particularly noteworthy in studies of the impact of early childhood education on social preferences and methods that enhance charitable giving and support for public programs. The International Foundation for Research in Experimental Economics is pleased to congratulate Dr. Samek and looks forward to following her career in the years to come.