About

🌍 Hi, I am a Ph.D. Candidate in Applied Economics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

I am an applied economist and data scientist focusing on global food security and agricultural development in low- and middle-income countries. I work with a wide range of data sources—including household surveys, satellite imagery, and unstructured text—and apply methods such as natural language processing, causal inference, and machine learning to construct novel datasets, investigate the drivers of food insecurity, and assess the impacts of related policies.

My doctoral research focuses on three key areas:

1. Agricultural Systems and Nutrition – Examining how agricultural production and market dynamics shape nutrition outcomes.
2. Predictive Modeling for Early Warning – Using machine learning to improve early warning systems and targeting for food security interventions.
3. Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response – Analyzing how humanitarian assistance is allocated in response to economic shocks and food insecurity.

Professional Engagements

Beyond academia, I have worked with several international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). These have involved leading technical report, conducting impact assessments, integrating diverse data sources, and developing predictive models to support real-time food security monitoring and early warning systems. I have worked closely with interdisciplinary teams across these institutions to ensure that technical outputs align with operational needs and policy priorities.

Currently, I work as a Data Scientist and Modeling Specialist with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) unit at FAO. In this role, I contribute to the development of a real-time risk monitoring system designed to enhance early detection of food crises and support timely humanitarian response.

My field experience as a community development practitioner has been a vital complement to my academic training. Before beginning my doctoral studies, I was actively involved in an agricultural development project in Tanzania, where I led fieldwork and provided technical support for three years. Working with a Korean NGO, I helped secure funding, conducted field-based research, and closely worked with smallholder farmers to assess needs and implement climate-resilient interventions.