Athey earned her bachelor’s degree from Duke University and her Ph. D from Stanford, and she holds an honorary doctorate from Duke University. She previously taught at the economics departments at MIT, Stanford and Harvard.

Her current research focuses on the economics of the internet, marketplace design, auction theory, the statistical analysis of auction data, and the intersection of computer science and economics. Recently she has been working on theoretical and empirical studies of internet search, online advertising and the news media. She advises governments and businesses on the design of auction-based marketplaces, consulting for Microsoft Corporation in the role of chief economist since 2007, focusing on online services. She also serves as a long-term advisor to the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, helping to architect and implement their auction-based pricing system.

Personal Quote: "The old stereo type of what kind of person does programming or statistics are just not going to hold up in the future."