About
I am a second-year undergraduate at Northwestern University studying Economics and Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences, with minors in Mathematics and Classics. My academic interests center on econometrics — particularly the econometrics of networks — and how formal methods can illuminate the structure of social and economic systems.
I currently work as a research assistant to Prof. Robert Gordon at Northwestern. I previously worked with Prof. Doron Shiffer-Sebba, examining peer effects and behavioral patterns in online social networks — research for which I was named a finalist for the Fletcher Prize for upcoming undergraduate research.
Alongside research I maintain a persistent interest in entrepreneurship — I founded and operated a small business before college and am currently building something new. My Classics minor is not incidental: Latin and ancient literature offer a long, slow view of how human institutions actually work, which turns out to be more useful than it sounds when you spend most of your time doing math.
Research
2025 – Present
Online Networks & Digital Economies
Research assistant to Prof. Doron Shiffer-Sebba (Sociology, Northwestern). Analyzing social network structures and behavioral patterns in online platforms, with a focus on peer effects at the user level. Named a finalist for the Fletcher Prize for upcoming undergraduate research.
2026 – Present
Research with Prof. Robert Gordon
Research assistant to Prof. Robert Gordon (Economics, Northwestern). Details forthcoming.
Interests
Econometrics, network econometrics, peer effects, identification in social settings. Broadly interested in how formal statistical methods can be applied to problems where the unit of observation is not the individual in isolation, but the individual in relation to others.
Writing
Working draft — comments welcome
Examining the Economy on an Occupational Level: A Baseline-Sensitivity Warning for AI-Employment Research
A methodological note showing that measuring recent employment trends — including AI's — against a 2019–22 baseline is distorted by the COVID-19 shock and recovery, using BLS OEWS data across more than 860 occupations. The paper does not make a claim about AI's actual employment effects.
Read PDFBackground
Research Assistant
Prof. Robert Gordon, Northwestern
June 2026 – Present
Research Assistant
Prof. Doron Shiffer-Sebba, Northwestern
Oct. 2025 – June 2026
Wealth Management Intern
Morgan Stanley
June – Sept. 2025
Founder & CEO
The Kid Details, LLC
May 2022 – Sept. 2024
Interests
Econometrics & Networks
Both as a field of study and a way of seeing.
Latin & Classical Literature
A serious interest — and a break from the math.
Entrepreneurship
Built a business at 16. Still at it.
Monetary Policy
Muay Thai & Archery
Horology
Watches and clocks, briefly noted.
FAQ
Who is Caleb Eng?+
Caleb Eng is an undergraduate student at Northwestern University studying Economics and Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences (MMSS), with minors in Mathematics and Classics. He works as a research assistant at Northwestern and is primarily interested in econometrics, network economics, and how formal methods can illuminate the structure of social and economic systems.
What is Caleb Eng's research focus?+
Caleb's primary research interest is econometrics, with a particular focus on network econometrics — the study of how statistical methods can be applied to understand behavior and outcomes within networks of individuals, firms, or institutions. He currently assists with research on online social networks and digital economies under Prof. Doron Shiffer-Sebba, and is beginning research with Prof. Robert Gordon.
What is network econometrics?+
Network econometrics is a field that applies econometric methods to data with network structure — situations where individuals or agents are connected to one another and where those connections affect their behavior or outcomes. It sits at the intersection of social network analysis, causal inference, and economic theory.
What is MMSS at Northwestern?+
MMSS (Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences) is a selective undergraduate program at Northwestern University that trains students to apply formal mathematical and statistical tools — including game theory, probability, and optimization — to questions in economics, political science, and the social sciences broadly.
What is the Fletcher Prize?+
The Fletcher Prize is an award for upcoming undergraduate research at Northwestern University. Caleb was named a finalist for research conducted under Prof. Doron Shiffer-Sebba examining peer effects and behavioral patterns in online social networks.
What does Caleb Eng plan to do after Northwestern?+
Caleb is oriented toward graduate study, with a PhD in economics as his current direction. He also maintains a serious interest in entrepreneurship and has founded and operated businesses alongside his academic work.