With Dr. Jeffrey Michler, I run the Applied International Development Economics Lab (AIDE Lab). We research a range of topics in applied economics around the world. We presently have MSc Graduate Research Assistantship opportunities available for students interested in working on issues of food security, agriculture, and shocks. We are seeking students with expertise in statistical analysis and programming (e.g. Stata, Python, R). For details on some of our current students, recent graduates, and their work, see below.

We are an Environment and Resilience Vertically Integrated Team, focused on increasing the accessibility of research opportunities for underrepresented groups. The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIPs) take a transformative approach to enhancing higher education by engaging undergraduate and graduate students in ambitious, long-term, large-scale, multidisciplinary project teams.

As part of our commitment to training and mentoring the next generation or researchers have previously offered undergraduate internships, with the generous sponsorship of the Resilience Internships and Student Experience (RISE) program for mentoring in a small-group setting by AIDE Lab members on how to formulate a research question and how to conduct data analysis in applied economics. To learn more about our interns, please visit the AIDE Lab Internship page. If you are interested in sponsoring more internships in the future, please reach out to me.

Rodrigo Guerra Su: MSc in Applied Economics & Policy Analysis. Expected Graduation Date: May 2025.

Rodrigo is a second-year student in the master's program in Applied Economics and Policy Analysis. Rodrigo has a B.S. in agribusiness economics and management from the UA. He is interested in econometrics. After graduation, he aims to to work in the private sector focusing on consumer demand for food products, and then pursue a PhD in agricultural economics in the future.

Degrees: B.S. Agribusiness Economics & Management, University of Arizona

Research Project: The Economic Case for Climate Adaptation; Declining Yields in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Six African Countries

Reece Branham: MSc in Applied Economics & Policy Analysis. Expected Graduation Date: May 2025.

Reece is a second-year master’s student pursuing the Applied Economics and Policy Analysis program. Her interest in econometrics and data analytics motivated her to get a master’s in AREC, and she also has a background in economics as she recently graduated with a BSBA in Business Economics. Additionally, she has a BA in French! After graduation, she would like to work as an agribusiness consultant or data analyst.

Degrees: B.S./B.A. Business Economics & B.A. French, University of Arizona

Research Project: Understanding Risk in Agriculture

Kieran Douglas: BA Economics. Expected Graduation Date: May 2025.

Kieran is interested in applied economics and public policy, focusing on environment, development, trade, housing, and immigration. He aims to pursue an MSc. and eventually a PhD in Applied Economics after completing his undergraduate degree.

Research Project: Using Generative AI to Assess Economic Literature

Garrett Hanson: BA in Philosophy, Politics, Economics, Law & BSc in Mathematics

Garrett is studying PPEL and Mathematics at the University of Arizona where he is heavily involved on campus, acting as Vice President of Tucson Effective Altruism, Event Coordinator for Arbol de la Vida Hall Council, and an active member of the Filipino American Student Association and Arizona Model UN. After graduation, he is hoping to work in D.C., and he is particularly interested in the fields of tech policy, international affairs, and security.

Research Project: Using Generative AI to Assess Economic Literature

Aurora Seekins: BA in Economics & BA Philosophy, Politics, Economics, Law

Aurora is a senior pursuing her BA in Economics and BA in PPEL (Philosophy, Politics, Economics, Law). On campus she serves as the President for the Women in Economics Club, acts as a competing member on the UA Ethics Bowl team, and works at Fostering Success, a program that serves students who have dealt with homelessness, housing insecurity and/or foster care. Following graduation, Aurora plans to take some time off before returning to school to pursue her J.D. She is interested in law and economics, and environmental economics.

Research Project: Using Generative AI to Assess Economic Literature

Recent Graduates

  • Samantha Wetherell (graduation 2024): MS student at Oxford University

  • Chandrakant Agme (graduation 2024): Pre-Doctoral Fellow at Cornell University

  • Lorin Rudin-Rush (graduation 2023): PhD Student at University of Wisconsin, Madison

  • Dewan Abdullah Al Rafi (graduation 2023): PhD Student at University of Georgia

  • Ann Furbush (graduation 2022): Analyst at Cambridge Econometrics

  • Brian McGreal (graduation 2021), PhD Student at Washington State University, Quantitative Geography and Resource Management

  • Emil Kee-Tui (graduation 2021): PhD Student at Cornell Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management

  • Laura McCann (graduation 2021): PhD Student at University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy

  • Diana Githu (graduation 2020): PhD Student at University of Arizona, Arid Lands