To extend its capabilities for research and training, the NWRC establishes formal or informal cooperative programs with U.S. universities.

 

Currently, three Economics graduate students are working on NWRC funded research projects:

  David Carpenter is a seventh year PhD candidate focusing on public finance and environmental economics, as well as econometric analysis.  David is currently examining wildlife collisions with aircraft, building a number of different models in an attempt to estimate both the likelihood of damage and the magnitude of repair costs incurred from a given strike event.  These cost models will be employed to help generate more informed cost-benefit analyses and wildlife hazard risk assessments for the purpose of implementing wildlife management plans at airports nationwide, potentially reducing the damaging impacts of bird strikes, in terms of both dollars saved and loss of life averted.  The NWRC provides an incredible opportunity to directly apply the theoretical background gained through academic coursework to concrete and relevant problems facing our society.

   Brody Hatch is a third year PhD candidate focusing on international, environmental, and development economics.  At the NWRC, Brody is working on estimating the economic impact of canine rabies, the cost per dog vaccinated, and the cost per life saved in Africa and Asia where the disease is still prevalent.  His position is jointly funded by a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant through the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, a non-profit agency dedicated to the global elimination of canine rabies.  This work has led to published papers and is used to motivate support for elimination efforts.  Likely his research will have him traveling to Tanzania and the Philippines to collect data on canine rabies elimination efforts.  Working with the NWRC has provided invaluable experience doing real world international research on topics that matter.

  William Haden-Chomphosy is a first year PhD student interested in environmental and international economics. In his first year at the National Wildlife Research Center, William will be working with researchers on topics such as the economic impacts of canine rabies and feral swine damage to important agricultural commodities. The NWRC provides an invaluable opportunity to research and study economic effects in real world situations.