Ph.D. Student Spotlight: Matthew Mair - Focused on the Future of the Environment
Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Matthew began his academic journey in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where he completed his undergraduate education at Appalachian State University in Boone. It was there, surrounded by the natural beauty of western North Carolina, that he first became deeply interested in the relationship between the environment and economics.
Matthew's current research reflects that passion. He focuses on natural resource valuation, environmental policy analysis, and, increasingly, the application of machine learning to address pressing environmental issues. So far, he has had the opportunity to study agricultural nutrient runoff in North Carolina — an issue with both ecological and economic consequences — and is currently beginning an exciting new project investigating harmful algal blooms, also known as Red Tide, in Florida.
He chose this Ph.D. program specifically because it offered the opportunity to engage with applied research early in the program. One of the biggest draws was the chance to work with his advisor, Klaus Moeltner, a leader in environmental valuation and a pioneer in econometrics. His guidance has been instrumental in shaping the way he approaches research questions, especially those at the intersection of economics, data science, and environmental policy.
What Matthew enjoys most about his work is the ability to apply theoretical tools to real-world environmental problems. Lately, he’s been particularly energized by the potential of machine learning to enhance environmental economics research, an evolving field.
Looking ahead, his goal is to stay in academia — to teach and continue contributing to research that informs sound environmental policy and improves how we understand and manage natural resources.
