Faculty and Researchers

Anastasia Marshak

Anastasia MarshakResearch Assistant Professor
Research Assistant Professor, Friedman School

Working with Feinstein Since: 2006
Based in: Somerville, MA

Click here to read Anastasia’s Young Scholar Profile. 

Anastasia Marshak’s research at Feinstein aims to make humanitarian programming more appropriate and impartial by showing the value of and advocating for more data- and evidence-driven approaches. Her main body of work focuses on improving the field’s understanding of the drivers of malnutrition in complex contexts. As part of this she develops and applies improved methods to identify those drivers. Anastasia also supports improved programming in the areas of early marriage and the long-term impact of conflict on livelihoods and access to services applying a variety of methods, including program evaluations. Recently, Anastasia studied the effects of human rights abuses that took place during attacks on IDP camps in northern Uganda as part of a trial for the International Criminal Court (ICC). In addition to her research, Anastasia teaches introductory and intermediate statistics at the Friedman School.

Anastasia has expertise in quantitative analysis, research design, and nutrition. Prior to joining Feinstein, Anastasia worked for the MIT Poverty Action Lab and the World Bank in Sierra Leone.

She holds a B.S. in quantitative economics and international relations from Tufts University and an M.A. in economics from Boston University. She holds a Ph.D. from the Friedman School of Nutrition in the Food Policy and Nutrition Program, with a focus on humanitarian assistance.

Courses Taught:
  • Statistical Methods for Nutrition Science and Policy (NUTR207), Fall Term
  • Statistical Methods for Health Professionals I (NUTB250), Fall Term
  • Statistical Methods for Health Professionals II (NUTB350), Spring Term

 

Most Recent External Publications:
  • Anastasia Marshak, Gwenaelle Luc, Anne Radday, and Helen Young. 2021. “Seasonality of acute malnutrition and its drivers: a case study from eastern Chad” Field Exchange.
  • Anastasia Marshak, Aishwarya Venkat, Helen Young, and Elena Naumova. 2021. “How Seasonality of Malnutrition is Measured and Analyzed.” International Journal of Environment Research and Public Health 18(4).
  • Anastasia Marshak, Helen Young, Anne Radday, and Elena Naumova. 2020. “Sustained Impact of a Multi-Sectoral Intervention on Child Nutrition Two Years after Program Completion.” Maternal and Child Nutrition.
  • Anastasia Marshak, Helen Young, Anne Radday, and Elena Naumova. 2020. “Sensitivity of Nutrition Indicators to Measure the Impact of a Multi-Sectoral Intervention: Cross-sectional, Household, and Individual Level Analysis.” International Journal of Environment Research and Public Health 17(9).

News Items

Marshak, Atim, and Mazurana publish in Journal of Public Health Policy
April 24, 2023

Anastasia Marshak, Teddy Atim, and Dyan Mazurana published their article, “International Humanitarian Law Violations in Northern Uganda: Victims Health, Policy, and Programming Implications,” in the Journal of Public Health Policy…

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Feinstein faculty and researchers publish three articles in Field Exchange
June 13, 2021

Feinstein International Center faculty and researchers published three articles in May issue of the Field Exchange. Click here to download the full issue.  Merry Fitzpatrick et al’s article, “Kwashiorkor –…

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Feinstein Research Projects

Preventing Famine in the 21st Century
By Daniel Maxwell, Paul Howe, Merry Fitzpatrick, Erin Coughlan de Perez, Anastasia Marshak, Peter Hailey, Erin Lentz | May 2023

This project reconsiders our understanding of famines, the dynamics that give rise to famines, the resilience of populations subjected to these dynamics, and the means of prevention at the disposal of governments, humanitarian agencies, donors, and the affected populations.

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Gender, Sex, Age, and Disability in Humanitarian Response
By Dyan Mazurana, Daniel Maxwell, Phoebe Donnelly, Anastasia Marshak, Kinsey Spears | March 2023

This page brings together multiple projects related to gender, sex, and age in humanitarian response.

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Feinstein Publications

Sex, age (and more) still matter: Data collection, analysis, and use in humanitarian practice
Cover of Report "Sex, age (and more) still matter"
By Dyan Mazurana, Anastasia Marshak, Kinsey Spears | March 2023

This report reviews progress, outlines barriers to further progress, and makes recommendations to advance gender equality in the humanitarian system.

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Education and Female Youth in Displacement in South Sudan and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
cover of report: Education and Female Youth in Dsiplacement in South Sudan and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
By Kimberly Howe, Meg Moran, Elizabeth Stites, Anastasia Marshak, Khalat Ahmed Hammada, Shilan Sulaiman, Nyachar Lony, Tabitha Nyaleel Maguek | November 2022

This paper examines the role of marital status and motherhood on schooling experience and educational interruption, attainment, and aspirations in South Sudan and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

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