UChicago Urban Labs, also known as the University of Chicago Urban Labs, is a consortium of five research organizations affiliated with the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy: the Crime Lab, the Education Lab, the Energy and Environment Lab, the Health Lab, and the Inclusive Economy Lab. The labs conduct research into urban policies and promotes policy initiatives. Many of the labs are committed to left-of-center principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). ^{1  1   2}

Activities

UChicago Urban Labs is a research organization affiliated with the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy that analyzes and promotes policies for urban life and governance. ^{1  3}

UChicago Urban Labs has a three-part approach to promote urban policy. First, it works with nonprofit organizations and government agencies to identify policies and programs that could have potentially large impacts on urban life. Second, it tests the viability and effectiveness of those policies using randomized controlled trials and machine learning to prioritize resources to the most viable programs. Third, it attempts to scale the most cost-effective approaches with private and public funding. ³

Labs

UChicago Urban Labs is a collection of five semi-autonomous research groups: the Crime Lab, the Education Lab, the Energy and Environment Lab, the Health Lab, and the Inclusive Economy Lab. The Crime Lab and Education Lab conduct research in line with the left-of-center principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). ¹

The Crime Lab addresses government responses to gun violence and a criminal justice system that it argues is “not truly just.” This lab was founded in 2008 and conducts research and proposes changes to the criminal justice system, policing, community violence prevention, and youth violence. It offers programs such as Sit-D, a police training program to reduce police use of force; Becoming a Man, which uses behavioral science to intervene with young men to prevent violent crime; and the Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program, which works to reduce re-arrests for drug possession. The Crime Lab has offices in Chicago and New York City. ⁴

The Education Lab works with school districts to design and implement educational programs based on the research it conducts. It focuses on mentoring and counseling, personalized learning, helping students identify college or careers after secondary school, implementing restorative justice practices in school discipline, and re-engaging with students who have dropped out of the school system. The Education Lab was founded in 2011 as a sister organization of the Crime Lab. ^{5  6}

The Energy and Environment Lab works with government and the private sector to reduce pollution, conserve natural resources, and promote energy access. It focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing water consumption, and improving the efficiency of environmental policy. The Energy and Environment Lab was founded in 2015. ⁷

The Health Lab focuses on addressing “systemic barriers to achieving health equity.” It promotes access to holistic care among those it labels as marginalized populations, and researches public health, safety, and housing. ⁸

The Inclusive Economy Lab attempts to promote financial security and economic opportunities for those it argues have been harmed by lack of economic investment and segregation. The Inclusive Economy Lab argues that “Black and Latinx communities” have been excluded by government and institutions from employment, education, and wealth creation.  ²

People

Each lab within UChicago Urban Labs has its own staff and research directors. ⁹

The chair of the UChicago Urban Labs advisory council as of 2025 was Margot Pritzker. The executive director of the Energy and Environment Lab was Olga Rostapshova. The executive director of the Health Lab is Rebecca Neusteter. The executive director of the Inclusive Economy Lab is Carmelo Barbaro. The executive director of the Education Lab and the Crime Lab is Roseanna Ander.  ^{9  10  11}

1. “UChicago Urban Labs.” UChicago Urban Labs. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://urbanlabs.uchicago.edu/.
2. “Inclusive Economy Lab.” Inclusive Economy Lab Urban Labs. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://urbanlabs.uchicago.edu/labs/inclusiveeconomy.
3. “About.” UChicago Urban Labs. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://urbanlabs.uchicago.edu/about.
4. “About Us.” Crime Lab Urban Labs. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://crimelab.uchicago.edu/about/.
5. “Education Lab.” Education Lab Urban Labs. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://educationlab.uchicago.edu/.
6. “About Us.” Education Lab Urban Labs. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://educationlab.uchicago.edu/about/.
7. “Energy and Environment Lab.” Energy and Environment Lab Urban Labs. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://urbanlabs.uchicago.edu/labs/energy-environment.
8. “Health Lab.” Health Lab Urban Labs. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://urbanlabs.uchicago.edu/labs/health.
9. “People.” UChicago Urban Labs. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://urbanlabs.uchicago.edu/people.
10. “Our Team.” Crime Lab Urban Labs. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://crimelab.uchicago.edu/staff/.
11. “Our Team.” Education Lab Urban Labs. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://educationlab.uchicago.edu/staff/.