Maitri Punjabi is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the Michigan State University Department of Economics. She was drawn to the program because of the qualities of the research and faculty in the program.
“I chose Michigan State University because the research environment is collaborative, supportive, and welcoming,” she said. “I was also excited about the opportunity to work with and learn from the esteemed faculty in the Department of Economics.”
Before committing to the Michigan State University Economics Ph.D. program, Maitri Punjabi spoke with several current graduate students to learn more about the culture of the department.
“They all emphasized the inclusive culture as one of the program’s greatest strengths,” she remembers.
Punjabi’s research primarily focuses on how consumers respond to electricity pricing in developing countries.
“Many local and national governments around the world heavily subsidize electricity for consumers, potentially distorting consumption behavior in both intensive and extensive margins,” she explained. “My dissertation aims to uncover these distortions so we can better quantify the short- and long-run impacts of providing subsidies.”
At the end of her first year of the Ph.D. program, Punjabi remembers how it felt to approach three challenging comprehensive exams.
"A few months before the exams, upper-year students support first-year students by sharing study materials, offering encouragement, and reaching out regularly,” she said. “The support I received during my first year helped me overcome the ‘imposter syndrome’ I was feeling and taught me to be less afraid of failure.”
Many faculty see graduate students as the heart of MSU Department of Economics.
“Graduate students are an integral part of our department, contributing to our three core missions of teaching, research, and service; graduate students like Maitri help us meet these missions in an exemplary fashion,” said Professor Steven Haider, chair of the department.
Once Punjabi completes the doctoral program, she hopes to continue working on research related to energy policy in developing countries.
“I would like to work in close collaboration with governments to study policy challenges and help implement solutions,” she said.
When asked what advice she has for students considering the MSU Economics Ph.D. program, Punjabi emphasized the importance of getting an idea of the program’s culture.
" I would advise applicants to talk to Ph.D. students and faculty, at any university, to help them in making an informed decision,” she said. “The program you select should also be a good fit for you, so take the time to learn about the department's culture before making your decision.”
To learn more about the MSU Economics doctoral program, visit econ.msu.edu.