Meet Renu Ojha, Ph.D. Job Market Candidate
We are pleased to spotlight Renu Ojha, a Ph.D. job market candidate at Virginia Tech.
Her research focuses on natural resource management, environmental sustainability, and agricultural production, with an emphasis on helping producers and policymakers make more informed decisions. Through work on aquaculture production, oyster reef restoration, and farm financial management, she applies economic analysis to address complex challenges at the intersection of environmental stewardship, economic resilience, and community well-being.
- Job market paper: Techno-Economic Assessment of Advanced Technology Adoption in U.S. Shellfish Farming
- Professional webpage | CV
- Dissertation Chair: Jonathan van Senten
- Email: renu21@vt.edu
"Working with Renu has been a pleasure. She brings curiosity, persistence, and a practical perspective to her research, always keeping in mind how her work can help producers, policymakers, and communities make better decisions. She has grown into an independent scholar with a bright future, and I look forward to seeing the impact of her career." Jonathan van Senten, associate professor, and director of Virginia Seafood AREC
Q&A
What real-world problems are you most passionate about solving through your research and why?
I am passionate about helping people make better decisions about managing natural resources and adapting to environmental challenges. My research has focused on aquaculture production, oyster reef restoration, and farm financial management because these issues affect both livelihoods and the environment.
Outside of research, I enjoy practicing yoga. It has taught me that balance is not about maximizing an outcome at the expense of everything else but about finding harmony among competing priorities. I bring that same perspective to my work as an economist, where many of the most important decisions involve balancing economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. I enjoy using economic perspective and data to help farmers, policymakers, and communities balance economic needs with environmental stewardship. What motivates me most is knowing that my research can contribute to solutions that are both economically viable and environmentally responsible.
What inspired you to pursue your Ph.D.?
I pursued a Ph.D. in Economics because I believe every important decision involves costs, benefits, and trade-offs. I wanted to develop research skills to understand those trade-offs and generate evidence that helps individuals, businesses, and policymakers make more informed decisions.
Posted July 2026