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 always 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 first-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

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

Reece is a first-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 Weather in Agriculture

Chandrakant Agme: MSc in Applied Economics & Policy Analysis. Expected Graduation Date: May 2024.

Chandrakant’s research interests include behavioral development economics, most notably the economics of discrimination. He is currently a fellow in the HATS network. He completed a B. Tech. in Petrochemical Engineering from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya before coming to the University of Arizona. He wishes to continue his studies with a Ph.D. after completing his MSc at AREC.

Degrees: B. Tech., Petrochemical Engineering, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Lonere; MBA, Management, Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya

Research Project: Beyond Borders: Measuring Weather through Agro-Ecological Zones

Samantha Wetherell: BSc in Environmental and Water Resource Economics & BA in Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law. Expected Graduation Date: May 2024.

Sam is interested in exploring the interaction between environmental justice and economics, as well as environmental law. She plans to pursue her J.D. after completing her undergraduate degrees.

Research Project: Climate Investment and Knowledge: A Willingness to Pay Experiment

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

Kieran is interested in public policy analysis, applied economics, and data science. After completing his undergraduate degree, he hopes to go to graduate school in the field of economics and/or data science

Recent Graduates

• 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