Curriculum Vita, June 2013
Tara R. Wade [email protected] Laurel, MD 20707
Education
PhD Energy and Environmental Systems and Economics Dec. 2011 North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC Areas of specialization: Econometrics, Microeconomics, Resource Economics, Agricultural Economics, Environmental Economics
MS Applied Mathematics Dec. 2005 North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC Areas of specialization: Numerical Methods, Statistics
BS Mathematics Dec. 2003 Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC
Dissertation
Using Expectation Methods to Estimate a Discrete Choice Model When Individual Choices Are Not Observable: Methodology and Applications to Tillage Choice.
Committee Members: Lyubov Kurkalova (Advisor, NCA&TSU), Keith Schimmel (NCA&TSU), Mark Burkey (NCA&TSU), Stephen Holland (UNCG), Christopher A. Swann (UNCG)
Research Interests
Environmental and natural resource economics, applied econometrics, conservation policy design, climate change’s effects on agriculture
Publications and Papers under Review
Kurkalova, L. & Wade, T. Aggregated choice data and logit models: application to environmental benign practices of conservation tillage by farmers in the United States. Applied Econometrics and International Development (Forthcoming).
Edwards, J., Wade, T., Burkey, M. & Pumphrey, R.G. (2013) Forecasting the Public's Acceptability of Municipal Water Regulation and Price Rationing for Communities on the Ogallala Aquifer. Resource and Energy Economics.
Curriculum Vita, June 2013
Working Papers
Wade, T. Predicting subsidies that encourage continuous conservation tillage in the South Fork Watershed.
Wade, T. & Kurkalova, L. Combining the data from multiple sources in estimation of a binary choice model.
Wade, T. & Kurkalova, L. Using the logit model with aggregated choice data in estimation of Iowa corn farmers’ conservation tillage subsidies.
Claassen, R. & Wade, T. Using survey data to estimate the continuous adoption of no-till.
Wade, T. & Claassen, R. No-till, cover crop and reduced nitrogen applications in U.S. agriculture.
Conference and Seminar Presentations
EES Interdisciplinary Student Seminar Series, Greensboro, NC (2008, 2009, 2011) Missouri Valley Economic Association, St. Louis, MO (October 2010) USDA, Economic Research Service, Washington, DC (April 2012) University of NC Greensboro Economics Seminars, Greensboro, NC (May 2012) Agricultural and Applied Economics Association , Seattle, WA (August 2012) Agricultural and Applied Economics Association , Washington, DC (August 2013)
Computer Skills
Stata, Matlab, SAS, Microsoft Windows’ Excel, PowerPoint & Access, ARC View
Research Experience
Resource and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture Washington, DC Postdoctoral Research Associate Feb. 2013-Present
“Economic estimation of the adoption of continuous no-till using discrete choice models,” USDA/ERS/RRED/Resource, Environmental, and Science Policy Branch
Merged, cleansed and manipulated disparate datasets to create and manage large comprehensive datasets using Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), soil and climate data (used Stata, SAS, Access and Excel). Determined econometric techniques and model specifications to be used in adoption of continuous no-till study. Investigated and implemented methodologies that answered specific research questions. Wrote and assisted with writing academic papers and an Economic Information Bulletin on multiple farm management practices and farm characteristics. Curriculum Vita, June 2013
North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC Postdoctoral Researcher Jan. 2012 – Feb. 2013 Research Assistant Aug. 2007 – Dec. 2011
“Expansion of ethanol production: evaluation of costs and benefits to rural communities in the Upper Mississippi River Basin”, USDOE/USDA, PI: L.A. Kurkalova (NCA&TSU)
Developed and implemented a logistic model that allows the dependent variable to be treated as an expected value (used Stata ado files). Designed and executed research approaches to quantitative studies that assessed the drivers of farmers’ conservation choices. Investigated and implemented methodologies that answered specific research questions. Used utility maximization theory and discrete choice modeling approaches to estimate incentives for farmers’ adoption of conservation practices. Created and performed detailed comparisons of model specifications using agriculture, land use and climate variables (used Stata). Analyzed the impact of policy changes and climate changes on individuals’ choices using both observed and simulated data (used Stata). Conducted cost-benefit analysis on the impact of adoption of conservation practices. Modeled and estimated risks associated with using new cropland management systems. Conducted Monte Carlo analysis on a logistic regression model that combines grouped and individual data (used Stata). Merged, cleansed and manipulated disparate datasets to create and manage large comprehensive datasets (used Stata, SAS, Excel, and Access). Conducted rigorous, complex econometric analysis on cross-section and longitudinal data. Developed detailed internal reports on methodology, data collection, creation of variables and results. Presented research findings at conferences, meetings and seminars with interdisciplinary audiences. Wrote and co-authored peer-reviewed resource economics papers. Reviewed academic papers for The Journal of Economics. Designed projects for and supervised undergraduate researchers. Managed tasks related to model development and implementation, travel, data collection, meetings and maintained detailed notes to support the smooth transition of the replacement researcher.
North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC Research Assistant Jan. 2009 – Dec. 2010
“Changing societal attitudes towards water scarcity: ethanol production and increasing groundwater depletion of the Ogallala aquifer”, National Science Foundation, PI: J.A. Edwards (NCA&TSU)
Conducted rigorous, complex econometric analysis on the use of price rationing approaches as a municipal water conservation mechanism (used Stata). Curriculum Vita, June 2013
Created and performed detailed comparisons of ordered logit model specifications using household, demographic, geographic, climate and agriculture variables. Merged, cleansed and manipulated disparate datasets to create and manage large comprehensive datasets (used Stata and Excel). Assisted with designing a household survey on water use and willingness to pay for water. Provided summary statistics, organized survey responses and prepared data for econometric analysis. Co-authored peer-reviewed academic papers.
Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture Washington, DC Econometrician—Intern June - Aug. 2010
Organized Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) tillage and National Resource Inventory land use survey data and determined variables that can contribute to related studies (used SAS and Stata). Manipulated ARMS bioenergy, corn and soybean data and created variables used in other research projects.
Teaching Experience
Mathematics Instructor, Bennett College for Women Greensboro, NC Aug. 2006 - July 2007 Pre-Calculus Linear Algebra Summer 2008, 2009 Calculus I Supplementary Matlab Tutorial Calculus II
Adjunct Mathematics Instructor, Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC Jan. 2006 - Dec. 2006 Intermediate Algebra
Adjunct Mathematics Instructor, North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC Aug. 2005 - May 2006 Pre-Calculus Algebra and Trigonometry
Awards
AAEA Travel Grant (2012,2013), NCA&TSU College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year (2012), Best Seminar Presentation (2008), Excellence in Academic Performance (2008,2009,2010), Achievement of Academic Excellence (2009), Valedictorian (2003)
Service and Membership in Professional Organizations
Agricultural and Applied Economics Association: Reviewer of 2012 AAEA meeting abstracts. American Economic Association
Curriculum Vita, June 2013
References
Lyubov Kurkalova, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Economics and Finance North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University 1601 E. Market Street Greensboro, NC 27411 Merrick Hall 114 (336) 285-3348 [email protected]
Roger Claassen, Ph.D. Agricultural Economist, Economics Research Service U.S. Department of Agriculture 355 E. St. SW Washington, DC 20024 (202) 694-5473 [email protected]
Jeffery Edwards, Ph.D. Chair, Department of Economics and Finance North Carolina A&T State University 1601 E. Market Street Greensboro, NC 27411 (336) 285-3336 [email protected]