Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Medal of Science goes to Professor Ali Hortaçsu

Rahmi M. Koç Medal of Science, full name Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Medal Of Science, an award program was initiated by Koç University to  “encourage the development of science by rewarding successful, leading scientists of Turkish origin aged under fifty, who have contributed to the accumulation of universal knowledge in Turkey and abroad.” The Medal of the year 2021 was presented in the fields of “Administrative Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities and Law” to Professor Ali Hortaçsu for his outstanding contributions in the area of market efficiency, rational behavior, and auction models.

Selection Committee
Chaired by Prof. Umran S. Inan, the Selection Committee included individuals from very prominent institutions around the globe; Professor Daron Acemoğlu (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Professor Zeynep Çelik (New Jersey Institute of Technology), Professor Filiz Garip (Princeton University), Professor Ayşe Çağlar (Vienna University) and Professor Umran S. İnan (Koç University).

About Professor Ali Hortaçsu
Ali Hortaçsu is Ralph and Mary Otis Isham Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago Department of Economics. His work is focused on empirically assessing the efficiency of markets. He utilizes detailed micro-level data from the markets studied to estimate preference and technology parameters that rationalize individual behavior. He then uses the estimated preferences and technological parameters to construct benchmarks and assess how far observed market outcomes are from efficiency.

Hortaçsu received his BSc and MSc degrees from the Stanford University Department of Electrical Engineering. After completing his PhD in economics at Stanford University in 2001, he worked as a visiting assistant professor and visiting professor of economics at Harvard University, Northwestern University and Yale University respectively. Before his current post at the University of Chicago, he served as assistant professor of economics between 2001-2006, and as professor of economics between 2006-2014.

A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a fellow of the Econometric Society, Hortaçsu is a research associate for the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) Industrial Organization Program, and was named an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow in 2006. In addition to having published numerous papers in prestigious academic publications in the fields of economics and industrial organization, Hortaçsu has worked as co-editor of the Journal of Political Economy and the RAND Journal of Economics, as well as serving as editorial board member and associate editor for various journals. He has served as a member of the National Science Foundation Economics Panel, and won multiple NSF grants for his research work, including an NSF CAREER Grant.

To watch the film about Prof. Ali Hortaçsu, please click.

To watch the film about Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Medal of Science, please click.

To watch the online seminar by Prof. Ali Hortaçsu, please click.