My research focuses on the design and evaluation of environmental policies and programs, but I have broad interests in causal inference in science and policy, and I’m open to working with students who ask compelling questions about causal relationships. For example, how does biological diversity affect ecosystem productivity or how can programs induce private firms to act for the public good? This article offers a sense of my approach to empirical research. I’m also interested in behavioral economics and psychology, particularly how insights from these fields can inform policy.

Most of my students devote at least part of their dissertation to empirically evaluating policies or programs. Some focus instead on specific mechanisms through which a policy or program is hypothesized to affect outcomes. I am especially interested in research that estimates the effects of particular causes, rather than research that attempts in a single study to identify all the causes of an outcome. Understanding the causes of effects is, of course, our ultimate goal, but our theories and data often cannot support that ambition in a single study. I believe that well-posed questions about the effects of causes offer a more fruitful path for inquiry. I am particularly drawn to causal studies that speak to broader debates about human behavior, ecosystem function, or the connections between the two.

I prefer, but do not require, dissertations consisting of three essays suitable for publication in reputable, peer-reviewed journals. I take mentoring seriously and generally expect students to work with me on at least one essay. I have no preference for students who seek an academic rather than nonacademic career, but I am especially interested in students who wish to incorporate policy-relevant research into their careers.

Students seeking a dissertation advisor can apply to one of three PhD programs: the Department of Economics, the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, and the ESRH PhD track in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering (you may matriculate into this track through either the Bloomberg School of Public Health or the Whiting School of Engineering). I also serve as a member of PhD committees in a variety of disciplines, including Economics, Public Policy, Biology, Environmental Studies, and Engineering. Your intellectual identity is shaped by your expertise and interests, not only by the department that awards your degree.

If you think you may want me as a dissertation advisor or committee member, I encourage you to contact me. Before accepting an admissions offer, I recommend you talk to some of my former students or postdoctoral fellows to get a sense of what it might be like to work with me: Hannah Correia at the University of Maryland; Pallavi Shukla at Deakin University; Maria Bernedo at the University of Maryland; Merlin Hanauer at the California Public Utilities Commission; and Juan Jose Miranda at the World Bank.