Name

Ariel Ortiz-Bobea

School

University of Maryland

Degree Program

Fourth year PhD student in Agricultural Economics

Previous Degrees

Master of Science in Agricultural and Resource Economics from University of Maryland, 2011; Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University, 2008; Master of Engineering in Agronomy from AgroParisTech, 2004; Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences, University of Paris-Sud, 2001

Dissertation Topic

Modeling the structure of adaptation to climate change in agriculture

Research Interests

Climate change; agricultural development; technology adoption; risk

Advisor

Richard E. Just

Advisor’s Research Focus

Welfare economics; risk and production; quantitative policy analysis

Hobbies

Playing soccer, climbing, jogging, photography

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

I chose to attend University of Maryland for graduate school because it offers 1 of the top economics programs in the United States. Here we have access to some of the leading professors in their field because it is such a large research university.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

To prepare myself for graduate school in agricultural economics, I took advanced microeconomics and math classes. I also focused on engineering and the sciences during my previous degree program, which has come in handy for conducting economic research on interdisciplinary issues.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, I needed to take the general GRE in order to apply to University of Maryland. The GRE score is important at my university, especially if the faculty of the admissions committee don’t know your school or the professors who are recommending you. Your quantitative score is additional evidence to prove you have an adequate math background, which counts for a lot in the admissions process for an economics program.

What kind of information did you include in your personal statement?

In my personal statement, I wrote about my research interest, which is the effect of climate change on agriculture. Professors want to see that a potential graduate student has the ability to conduct research, so they want to see that you are a creative and curious individual. Any research experience that you have in your field will be important, because it shows that you are actively pursuing your academic interests.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

I chose to approach well-known economics professors who had good track records for recommending students to programs. I think the best way to determine who to ask for a recommendation is to see if a professor believes he or she can write you a strong letter that stands out among the generic recommendations.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

In my PhD program, graduate students are funded for 4 years. You have 2 years of coursework, where the first year is devoted to core classes that lead up to a written paper that must be worthy of being published in an economic journal. The final 2 years are spent preparing your dissertation.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

My dissertation research is focused on developing a methodology to analyze the impact of climate change on agriculture. In particular, I am exploring the effects within the American Midwest.

Can you describe the process of researching for and writing your dissertation?

My dissertation process seems neverending because I am constantly thinking about it, whether I am taking a shower, running a trail or working at my desk. It is not like an office job where you walk in at 8:00 a.m. and you leave at 5:00 p.m. It fluctuates, so 1 day I might not accomplish much, but the next day I will work so much that I don’t get to bed until 3:00 a.m. Not having a set work schedule can be hard on you and the people around you.

How is the dissertation process different from working on a masters thesis?

In agricultural economics, I didn’t have to write a masters thesis. I only had to defend my proposal, which automatically qualified me for the masters degree. The proposal is an interesting process. You have to convince your thesis committee that you are pursuing a good question and that you have the ability and the resources to answer that question. Your question needs to add something unique to the literature of your field, so you have to read a lot to know what is out there in order to avoid repetition.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

My advisor has a lot of experience in the field, which he draws upon to guide me through academic and business situations. Any time that I doubt myself, I e-mail my advisor for advice. He comments on my ideas for papers and I look forward to his feedback. He also gives me advice on how to deal with other people in the field, which can be a delicate matter. If you give your ideas away, someone else might steal them for their own work. So he helps me navigate those situations so that I get credit for my ideas.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your PhD program cost?

I don’t pay anything for my PhD program because I am funded by my university. I am not sure exactly how much this program would cost if I weren’t funded.

How are you funding your education?

My university funded me from the moment I entered the program. Each PhD student was assigned to a professor as a research or teaching assistant. You work around twenty hours a week in that capacity, and in exchange, your tuition is covered and you receive a small stipend.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in agricultural economics?

A PhD in agricultural economics requires that you spend most of your time alone, conducting research. It takes a lot of work, but you have to disconnect sometimes from the academic world to go jogging or take a hike so that you can come back fresh.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

Graduate school has affected my personal life because I had to learn that even though my dissertation is important to me, other people don’t always want to hear about it. So I have had to learn to shift gears when I am not in work mode and act like a normal person instead of an obsessed economist.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In the next 5 years I think it is likely that I will become a professor in an American or Western European university. I plan to continue working on climate issues, but I have interests outside of my dissertation topic as well.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in agricultural economics?

Every person has an area in which they excel. In order to get the most out of your thesis or dissertation, find a way to use your particular strengths to make a contribution to the field. That way your research is more valuable to you and to your peers.