Joël holds a Ph.D. in international economics from the University of Toronto, an M.A. in economics from the University of Western Ontario, an M.B.A. from INSEAD, an M.Sc. in computer engineering from the University of Waterloo and a B.Sc. in engineering science from the University of Toronto. Prior to joining UW, Joël was an assistant professor of economics and international affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, in Washington, DC.

His research focuses on the economics of innovation and innovation policy. He has studied, among other things, the role of multi-location firms in promoting the flow of knowledge across geographical space, the effect of patents on innovation, whether skilled immigration fosters innovation, and automation and the future of work. His work has featured in numerous media outlets including The Economist, The Globe and Mail, and the CBC.

Joël regularly advises policymakers and industry leaders on artificial intelligence and the future of work. He has briefed the G7 Representatives and has been an invited speaker at numerous venues including the OECD Global Forum on Productivity. His framework for thinking about the coming AI revolution has been influential among government and business leaders and was adopted by a multi-billion dollar financial firm as the foundation of its AI strategy.

Joël has extensive experience in the private sector where, as a consultant, he worked in the Canadian, Australian and Asian banking industries, providing high-level strategic advice on various operational, sales and change management projects. He has formulated the strategy for a US$100 million start-up, and has provided expert testimony and advisory services to the online music industry. Joël was also on the advisory board of the Creative Destruction Lab, a pre-eminent accelerator for high-tech ventures.

He is the recipient of numerous awards, research grants and distinctions. His dissertation was a finalist for the Barry M. Richman Best Dissertation Award in International Business. Among others, he has received a SSHRC CGS Doctoral Scholarship, an NBER Innovation Policy Research Grant, an INET-CIGI grant, a SSHRC IDG Grant, and a UW Outstanding Performance Award.

Joël is fluent in English, French and Spanish. He lives within walking distance of UW with his wife and four awesome kids.