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Postdoctoral Researcher

Dr. Julia Dennett

Function

Postdoctoral Researcher

Room

G3-2.10

Mail: julia.dennett@hpi.de

Short Bio

Dr. Julia Dennett is a postdoc in the Digital Health Cluster at the Hasso Plattner Institute. Her research focuses on the determinants of health and innovation in health care. She is particularly interested in the social determinants of health, health behaviors, and the applications of digital health for public health. She uses quasi-experimental methods and interdisciplinary approaches to generate causal evidence that can be used to improve health outcomes. Julia’s background is in health economics and policy. Before joining the HPI, she was a postdoc at the Yale School of Public Health, where she pursued research into the opioid crisis. Julia received her Ph.D. in Health Policy (Economics concentration) from Harvard University and her B.S. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Research Interests

Dr. Julia Dennett is a health economist who focuses on analyzing the determinants of health and health care innovation using quasi-experimental methods. Her research aims to better understand the mortality and morbidity burdens facing populations and inform policy to improve public health. Julia’s specific areas of interest include the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, substance use, and the social determinants of health.

Teaching

Winter Term 2024/2025:
Health Care Economics (M.Sc.)

Short Resume

Before joining the HPI, Julia was a postdoc at the Yale School of Public Health. Julia received her Ph.D. in Health Policy (Economics concentration) from Harvard University and her B.S. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Detailed CV.

Publications

PUBLICATIONS:

  • Dennett, J. M., E. J. Soltas, G. S. Goda, T. A. Thornhill, K. Werner, & G. S. Gonsalves. 2025. “Enduring Outcomes of COVID-19 Work Absences on the US Labor Market.” JAMA Network Open 8(10):e2536635 https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.36635.
  • Dennett, J. M., D. Carrión, D. A. Fiellin, & G. S. Gonsalves. 2025. “Heat Exposure and Drug Overdose Mortality in the USA.” Addiction 121(2): 275–285. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70191.
  • Dennett, J. M. 2024. “The Long-Term Impacts of Cigarette Taxes on Smoking.” American Journal of Health Economics 10:4: 568–602.https://doi.org/10.1086/726584.
  • Kim, J., J. Lee, T. A. Thornhill, J. Dennett, H. Lu, B. Howell, L. E. Grau, D. A. Fiellin, R. Heimer, & G. Gonsalves. 2024. “Accessibility of Opioid Treatment Programs Based on Conventional vs Perceived Travel Time Measures.” JAMA Network Open 7(2):e240209. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0209.
  • Dennett, J. M. & G. S. Gonsalves. 2023. “Early OxyContin Marketing Linked To Long-Term Spread Of Infectious Diseases Associated With Injection Drug Use.” Health Affairs 42(8): 1081–1090. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00146.
  • Dennett, J. M. & K. Baicker. 2022. “Medicaid, Health, and the Moderating Role of Neighborhood Characteristics.” Journal of Urban Health 99: 116–133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-021-00579-2.

WORKING PAPERS: