Aaron Hill

Aaron Hill is a seasoned research scientist based in Newton, Massachusetts, with extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. His analytical acumen enables him to swiftly assess information, identify problems and trends, and devise solutions to complex issues. A practiced communicator, Aaron excels in preparing and presenting research findings to diverse audiences, ensuring clarity and engagement. His project management skills are evidenced by a proven history of organizing deliverables within stringent deadlines, maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency.

Since 2018, Aaron has been contributing his expertise to the NEWDIGS Initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a research scientist. In this role, he conducts systematic literature reviews encompassing both academic and grey literature, focusing on patient perspectives regarding financial challenges in healthcare. Collaborating with external stakeholders, he designs and implements field research programs informed by these literature reviews. His work includes researching and authoring policy papers on issues related to durable therapies. Notably, Aaron coded and synthesized qualitative data from a comprehensive review of 423 articles using nVivo, culminating in a peer-reviewed manuscript for which he served as the primary author. He also designs survey research programs in partnership with payers, developers, and patient groups to address gaps in existing literature. Aaron organizes and analyzes large quantitative datasets of survey responses utilizing tools such as Excel and MySQL, and generates data visualizations for research briefs, journal articles, and public presentations using Giphy, Tableau, and R (ggplot2). As a lead presenter, he represents MIT at conferences attended by senior leaders from the pharmaceutical, payer, provider, and financial sectors.

Prior to his tenure at MIT, Aaron dedicated over a decade to academia at the University of Chicago. From 2002 to 2017, he served as a lecturer in the College, teaching the course “Self, Culture, and Society.” In this capacity, he facilitated small, discussion-based classes that delved into contemporary issues in the history of capitalism and the development of modern political ideologies. Aaron fostered engaging classroom environments by encouraging discussions on current political, social, and economic topics. He provided detailed feedback on student drafts, recommending revisions to enhance coherence, flow, clarity, and consistency, and coached students to improve their writing and editing skills through constructive critiques of their coursework. Regular monthly feedback sessions allowed him to assess students’ interests and needs, thereby facilitating effective learning experiences.

Aaron’s scholarly journey began as a doctoral researcher at the University of Chicago from 2000 to 2014. His research involved curating evidence from various European sites to identify common thought patterns among six historical figures. Through this work, he developed novel conclusions about these figures’ experiences of economic development across Europe, based on original data. Aaron designed and executed a multi-year qualitative research program targeting data from multiple countries and languages, uncovering previously overlooked patterns. Employing social scientific methods, he framed original research questions and translated complex philosophical discussions into accessible language for audiences unfamiliar with the topics, demonstrating his ability to make intricate ideas comprehensible.

In addition to his academic and research pursuits, Aaron engaged in political outreach as an organizer for Tammy Duckworth’s senatorial campaign from 2015 to 2016. He organized and supervised volunteer phone banks and canvassing personnel, collaborating with community groups statewide for joint event appearances and voter turnout drives. Aaron managed and adjusted sequences of competing tasks to meet daily goals of over 1,200 phone calls and 400 door-to-door canvassing efforts in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. He liaised with other campaigns and party groups to coordinate joint events and volunteer recruitment drives, and represented the candidate at Democratic party meetings across Illinois to encourage volunteer activity and voter participation.

Aaron Hill has held the following positions:

Research Scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) NEWDIGS Initiative (2018 – Present)

Lecturer in the College at University of Chicago (2002 – 2017)