While summer is a quiet time of year for many, this summer is looking to be a busy one for LSBE’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER). Our office is currently working on several exciting new projects, researching topics from geothermal energy to the aviation industry and how climate change is affecting domestic migration patterns.
We also recently learned that our proposal, “Investigating the potential demand for distributed rooftop solar energy production on commercial properties in the greater Duluth, Minnesota, area,” was selected to receive 2024 Impact Goals RFP funding from the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment. The interdisciplinary project includes partners Neil Wilmot, associate professor of Economics; Chris McIntosh, associate professor of Economics; Alison Hoxie, associate professor (Mechanical Engineering); the City of Duluth Sustainability Department; and Minnesota Power. Expect to hear much more about that two-year project in the coming months.
To help us with these projects, we hired two undergraduate research assistants (UGRAs) in May—Ethan Ion and Sophia Nevills. A quick introduction of them is below.
Wishing everyone a great summer!
Tell us about yourself.
Ethan: I am from Hudson, Wisconsin, and will be graduating with degrees in Economics and Psychology. Camping, playing video games (NHL, Madden), reading (Lonesome Dove and books by Tom Clancy are my favorites), and cooking are my favorite hobbies right now. Also, I have a Dachshund/Lab dog named Pixie.
Sophia: I’m from Mankato, Minnesota, and a senior with an Economics major and Marketing minor. I’m in the 4+1 MBA Program that lets me complete my master's degree with just an extra year at UMD after I get my bachelor’s degree this spring. My hobbies include playing golf, collecting sea glass, and running, as well as downhill and cross-country skiing in the winter.
What inspired you to apply for the research assistant position?
E. I found the BBER job on the UMN jobs site while applying for the LSBE microeconomic and statistics tutoring job. I saw that the BBER job heavily involves business and economic research, which I enjoy doing and learning about, and I felt had to apply. Also, the hands-on experience that this position has within LSBE was also very appealing.
S: I had just sent Monica an email remarking on my interest in applying for the URGA position, but I wanted more information. As it turned out, when I went to the Economics Health Care Management networking event at a UMD hockey game, she was there. We got to talking about the position, and it seemed like a good fit for me to learn more about what I could do with my Economics degree in a professional setting.
If you could research any local economic development topic, what would it be?
E: Since Duluth was touted as a climate refuge, I would like to research how that affects population, employment, and housing in Duluth. It would be cool to see if changes are already coming, still to come, or if it is all hype. As a UMD student, it is common to hear other students say Duluth's natural beauty, outdoor activities, or cool climate pulled them in to attend school here. Those things contributed to my choosing UMD as well. I think it’s time to think about how Duluth's climate will affect the city’s economy in the future.
S: I would like to research what could be done for the low-income population of Duluth, focusing on low-income housing and what those who are homeless could do to get back on their feet. There are a lot of open lots and acreage in Duluth, so I’m interested in knowing if turning those into low-income housing areas is a possibility.
How do you see your position at the BBER helping you achieve your goals after college?
E: I will be joining the workforce immediately after graduation and aspire to attend grad school in a couple years. The research skills as well as analysis and modeling skills developed through this job will prepare me and increase my odds of getting hired and then accepted into a graduate program.
S: I see my position at the BBER helping me to hone my research skills as well as my ability to analyze data efficiently and effectively. It will also provide a good background of research for me as I want to pursue higher-level research in my MBA program and career. I am hoping to combine my marketing and economics skills potentially into an analysis position. I have an interest in market research management, developmental economics, and marketing analysis. I feel as though my work with the BBER will help me to develop those analysis skills and will give me a leg up when it comes to peers.