Hometown: Kolkata, India
Major: Second year Ph.D. student in agricultural economics
Anticipated date of graduation: May 2020
Why did you decide to come to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln?
My mentor and professor back home told me about the Agricultural Economics program here. I was really interested in the work that my advisor, Dr. Simanti Banerjee, was doing at the intersection of natural resource economics and behavioral and experimental economics. These were both my electives when I was pursuing my master's in India and it just seemed like a dream combination to be working on for my Ph.D.
What is your favorite thing about the university?
A lot of things actually. There is a wonderful sense of being truly welcomed and made to feel at home by everyone I have met on campus and everyone in my department. When I came here I didn't really feel like I was "transitioning" because we were a part of the department activities from day one. Moreover, the faculty provides individual one-on-one attention on our research and learning, which has really guided me well.
What is your favorite class you have taken so far and why?
I haven't taken as many field courses as I would have liked because the first year is all about equipping our economics tool kit. I really enjoyed AECN 840-Applied Welfare Economics. Not only did I love the interactive format of the class but also the behavioral focus. I also learned a lot from survey design and questionnaire design courses being offered by the Survey Research and Methodology Program. These courses highlighted easy to commit errors in surveys and questionnaires, which we all use in some way or the other in conducting research. I am particularly excited about AECN 896 - Behavioral and Experimental Economics and AECN 901 J-Environmental and Resource Economics- courses that I am taking this semester.
What are your plans post-graduation?
I hope to be employed and doing useful research!
What's life like outside school?
Lincoln is so beautiful. I cannot post enough Instagram stories about the sky during sunset. I like visiting the museums in and around campus – the Quilt Museum and the Sheldon Art Museum are favorites. I also love the diverse, high-quality cinema shows at the Ross Theatre. The Maxwell Arboretum, right next to my department on East Campus, is the best place to be when feeling stressed and some of the plant tours offered there have been really informative. There are always new, interesting events happening on campus and with a little bit of planning, it is a great place to have a well-balanced, enjoyable grad life.