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Research Associates and Assistants
Connie Chan-Kang Connie Chan-Kang is a research associate for the Institute International Science and Technology Practice and Policy Center (InSTePP) in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota. Prior to that, Connie worked as a research analyst at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington D.C. At IFPRI, her research focused on technological change, research and development (R&D) policy, and on the impact of public investments on agricultural productivity growth and rural poverty reduction. This included two projects that quantified the economic benefits and spillover consequences of crop varietal improvement research in Brazil (upland rice, beans, and soybean) and China (rice and wheat). Connie received an M.Sc. degree in Agricultural Economics from Oregon State University in 1997. Connie joined InSTePP in June 2004 to work on two interrelated projects: "Agricultural Genetic Resource Flows and Impacts: The U.S. in an International Context" (funded by USAID), and "An International Assessment of the Sources, Flows and Economic Consequences of Agricultural Germplasm" (funded by USDA, ARS). These projects aim to: (i) identify the detailed pattern of varietal change in the U.S. and other major rice and wheat producing countries from 1975 (or as far back as possible) to 2000; (ii) value the global benefits from varietal improvement research on rice and wheat; (iii) identifying the sources of these varietal changes; and (iv) partition the country-specific and global benefits among local and international sources using various genetic attribution rules. Connie's research interests include measuring and assessing technological change, particularly the spillovers and welfare consequences of agricultural research. She is also increasingly developing an interest in intellectual property rights and biotechnology issues.
Jason Beddow Jason Beddow is a graduate student at the University of Minnesota working on a Ph.D. in Applied Economics. Beddow holds a B.S. degree from Texas Tech University and a M.S. degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Before attending the University of Minnesota, he worked as a research assistant, research associate, consultant and small business owner, gaining significant experience in programming of both client and server computer applications, efficient manipulation of large datasets, and environmental/economic impact assessment. He is concentrating his studies and research on program evaluation, international development and environmental economics, with a particular focus on how these areas of inquiry might best be combined to provide tangible benefits to the world's most impoverished citizens..
Steven Dehmer Steven Dehmer is a graduate student in the Applied Economics program at the University of Minnesota working on M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in computer science and economics from Saint John's University, Minnesota. His primary areas of research interest are in health economics, science and technology policy, and gender studies. Prior to attending the University of Minnesota, Steven gained experience in a wide variety of fields, including information technology, web development, grant writing, and management consulting. He brings an agenda for exploring the science and technology policy of health and the medical field to InSTePP, as well as a strong quantitative and computational skill set for data analysis.
Jennifer Drew Jennifer Drew is a graduate student in applied economics at the University of Minnesota, having recently earned a bachelor's degree in economics at the University. Prior to that Jennifer owned and operated a commercial cut flower business and was also a retailer at the St. Paul Farmer's Market. She has served as a board member of the St. Paul Grower's Association (the local farmer's market board), was president of the Friends of the St. Paul Farmers' Market (the group that raised funds and planned the market expansion with city officials), and before that managed the produce department for St. Paul's largest food coop. Her research interests are in the economics of intellectual property rights and innovation as applied to the horticultural sector. In addition to her own continuing education, she is interested in the education of others. Jennifer and her husband are founders of the Yunnan America Foundation, which has built two primary schools in the Republic of China, and has 50 students on scholarship.
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