Michael Harhay

Michael Harhay is the director of statistical evaluation at the Nudge Unit. He is also an assistant professor of epidemiology and medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine and a core member of Penn’s Palliative and Advanced Illness Research (PAIR) Center, where he directs the Clinical Trials Methods and Outcomes Lab.

With his team at the PAIR Center, Michael has contributed to a wide range of clinical trial methodology areas, and he applies that expertise to shape Nudge Unit study design and analysis. Michael’s primary research interest is developing and using causal inference and Bayesian statistical methods to improve pragmatic and cluster-randomized trials. He also leads and collaborates on studies focused on allocating solid organs for transplantation and long-term outcomes following hospitalization. 

Michael has authored more than 200 scientific publications and is involved in several international research activities. He serves as a statistical editor for several leading journals in critical care medicine and is an editor of the International Journal of Epidemiology. Michael has been recognized for his teaching and research through several education and early career awards, including the 2021 Assembly on Critical Care Early Career Achievement Award from the American Thoracic Society.

Michael holds a PhD in epidemiology and four master’s degrees in bioethics, global health, demography, and statistics, all from the University of Pennsylvania.