My goal is to produce empirically rigorous and theoretically informed research related to environmental policy, development, inequality, and environmental justice. I am especially interested in shedding light on distributive and procedural inequities related to environmental policy, and understanding what can be done to mitigate these inequities. 

I examine these questions primarily in the context of natural resource governance, conservation policy, and climate adaptation in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. My work employs a variety of approaches, but I have a particular interest in using randomized trials and quasi-experimental methods to estimate the impacts of institutional changes and governance interventions, conducting lab-in-the-field experiments designed to uncover how environmental policies and governance reforms shape equity and inequality, and (more recently) leveraging open source data to shed light on conflict and violence related to environmental governance. I am also committed to working closely with local stakeholders on both the design and implementation of research. I am currently working with local organizations in India, Nepal, and East Africa on a series of randomized trials and experimental studies of environmental governance interventions in those settings.

My work appears in journals like Nature Climate Change, Nature Sustainability, Conservation Letters, Ecological Economics, and World Development, and has received support from the National Science Foundation. For more information about my research, see my CV or links to my publications.

Research Lab

Current lab members

Dr. Nathan J. Cook Assistant Professor Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs Indiana University Indianapolis
Dr. Seungmin Lee Postdoctoral Research Fellow Seungmin Lee is jointly affiliated with the Nathan Cook Lab at Indiana University and the Pulte Institute of Global Development at the University of Notre Dame. Seungmin earned a Ph.D. in applied economics and management from Cornell University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Seungmin’s primary interest is measuring household well-being and its dynamics. Seungmin’s area of expertise include agricultural economics, applied econometrics, public policy, and development economics.
Meri McClusky Research Assistant Meri earned a B.A. in Political Science, with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, from IUPUI in 2024. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Affairs with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Sustainability at the O’Neill School, where she also works as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Nathan Cook Lab. Her academic interests focus on environmental policy and the intersection of social and civil issues.
Autumn Wittbrod Research Assistant Autumn Wittbrod is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs in Sustainability Practice and Policy, with a minor in Climate Resilience. She has a strong interest in marine conservation, particularly in marine habitat restoration. Autumn aspires to join the non-profit sector, and aims to pursue a master’s degree in Marine Resource Management or Coastal Zone Management. Outside of her academic pursuits, Autumn enjoys singing, baking, crocheting, and spending time outdoors.

Lab alumni

Skylar Hazlett Research Assistant Skylar earned a BSPA degree in Sustainable Management and Policy from the O’Neill School, with a minor in Environmental Science, in 2024. Skylar is now a Program Associate at the Hendricks Country Community Foundation and a part-time research assistant in the Nathan Cook Lab. She has great interest in sustainability, with an emphasis on communities, food systems, and urbanism. Skylar also enjoys being outside, biking, hiking, crocheting, and cooking.
Kamala Nair Kamala Nair earned her Bachelor of Science from IUI in 2022. She subsequently earned a graduate degree from Johns Hopkins University, and worked for 374Water.
Nicholas (Nick) Monroe Nicholas Monroe earned his Master of Public Affairs in Policy Analysis from the O’Neill School in 2023, and defended a thesis on redlining and environmental justice. He is now an Environmental Manager at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
Tabitha Shikuku Tabitha earned a Master of Public Affairs in Policy Analysis from the O’Neill School in 2024. She now leads social impact initiatives for the San Francisco International Airport, with a focus on programs to support diverse small businesses.
Soha Vora Soha competed a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability Studies at Indiana University in Bloomington.
Joshua Reed Joshua is pursuing a Juris Doctor and an MPA degree from the O’Neill School.
Faith Odiete Faith Odiete earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 2024 and her Master of Public Affairs degree from the O’Neill School in 2025. She was also an IU-Indianapolis Top 10 Student, William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion Recipient, the 2024 Most Outstanding Student in the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Program, and the 2024 Student Commencement Speaker. She is now a military intelligence officer.
Sydney Brasser Sydney Brasser earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Management from the O’Neill School in 2024. She is now an Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.