Home

Announcements for Friday, June 17, 2011

Announcements

  • ISU debris policy

    As you clean out your offices, please observe ISU's debris policy. We do have a cart located in 260 Heady, if you need to check out to help you haul things to dumpster.

    Below are guidelines to facilitate procedures in handling disposal of debris at Iowa State University.

    • Please do not place items in the hallways for disposal. This may block egress out of buildings and can create an unsafe situation in case of an emergency.
    • Books, files, furniture, computer boxes, furniture boxes and shipping packing/popcorn are the responsibility of the department to dispose of.
    • Bag all shipping packing/popcorn in trash bags provided by the custodial department. Tie the bags and dispose of them in the appropriate dumpster. This will assist in keeping the University campus free from blowing trash.
    • Break down cardboard boxes and stack in cardboard collection site. We will be receiving a wire bin which will be placed on our loading dock soon.
    • Construction material, furniture, shipping crates, pallets, plant waste and/or leaves will be placed on the dock for pick up. Contact the Campus Services at 294-1474 to schedule pick-up of construction debris. Do not dispose of construction material in to dumpsters due to the specifications of the solid waste facility.

    If you have any questions regarding waste services please contact Paul Haggard, Manager Custodial Services 290-0975 and/or Les Lawson, Manager Campus Services 290-4006.

News

  • "Insightful" budget analysis by Otto's students sparks editorial

    A faltering economy and record high deficits don't come as good news to anyone. However, Professor Dan Otto found that current economic conditions created the perfect backdrop for fertile discussions in his Public Finance and Public Policy class this past semester.

    "The class is designed to give students the tools they need to analyze when and how the government might intervene in the economy, and to analyze the effects of those interventions," said Otto.

    Students from nine different majors worked throughout the semester on team projects around issues of the deficit. Spending cuts, entitlement reform, and revenue strategies were areas of concentration, and eventually they came up with a series of recommendations. Mid-semester they were invited by a non-partisan organization called The Concord Coalition to participate in a workshop on issues related to the federal deficit, along with other students from the University of Iowa and UNI.

    After a semester of analysis and debate, Otto said it seemed like a "natural" to put together an editorial to share their ideas. He drafted a piece using their recommendations "as coming from their generation," working back and forth with student input. The editorial was submitted to the Des Moines Register and then published.

    “The students were very insightful and very aware of the unsustainability of the current system of entitlements," he said. “They can see the charts 30 years from now, that if we put off a solution the problem will compound."

    The editorial sparked an active online debate. One student said, "It just goes to prove how hot-button of an issue this is." Some online applauded the students. "Interesting that a group of college students can present a more comprehensive plan than either the White House or US Senate," read one online posting.

    Otto said the semester was “one of the most enjoyable" for him because current events made the class discussions so relevant. "It gave us a lot to talk about."

    Read the Des Moines Register editorial at: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110603/OPINION01/106030318/Students-We-can-t-wait-to-fix-the-deficit-debt


    Learn more about The Concord Coalition at: http://www.concordcoalition.org

  • Dumortier accepts position at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis

    Jerome Dumortier is one of several graduate students who will soon complete their course of studies in the Department of Economics. Learn what he has planned after his exit in August.

    What degree did you complete? I will get a Ph.D. in economics and will graduate this summer (August). My research area is agricultural and environmental/resource economics. My dissertation analyzes the effects of a stochastic carbon price on agricultural production and forestry in the United States.

    What are your plans after you leave ISU? I got hired as an assistant professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University – Purdue University, Indianapolis. They were looking for an applied economist to incorporate economic principles in public policy analysis.

    What is exciting or interesting to you about this next step in your career? I am looking forward to continuing doing research and applying the tools I acquired at Iowa State University to real world problems. In addition, the move to a large city will also require some adjustment, but I'm sure it will be very exciting.

    What was one of the most valuable things you learned from the Department of Economics? Besides the quantitative tools and the institutional knowledge about agriculture, forestry, and greenhouse gas emissions, I have learned that determination can get you anywhere. It's been a challenging journey, and one that I could never have expected when I first started. It’s satisfying to think about where I started from, and to realize the fruits of hard work.

  • Weekly media connections for the Department of Economics

    Information courtesy of Jackie King, ISU News Service.

    • Research from CARD was featured in a June 13 Senate debate on ethanol/biofuel funding. Broadcast media clips available at: http://www.criticalmention.com/report/7809x220544.htm#
    • James Bushnell, associate professor of economics and director of the Biobased Industry Center, and Bruce Babcock, professor of economics and director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, spoke with Mark Clayton, a reporter with the Christian science Monitor, regarding ethanol tax credits.
    • ReCap's Liesl Eathington was interviewed last week by Donnelle Eller, a business reporter with The Des Moines Register for a story on women-owned businesses in Iowa.
    • Chad Hart, assistant professor of economics and grain markets specialist, was interviewed by Sue Danielson of WHO Radio Friday about the impact on agriculture of the Missouri River floods.
    • Dave Swenson, associate scientist, economics, was interviewed by WHO-AM’s Danielson about decreasing household debt levels, and the implications of that on economic recovery.
    • Swenson also appeared on Trent Rice’s, KASI talk show discussing the overall slow pace of the national economic recovery and the political ramifications for President Obama. Swenson was also interviewed by Dirck Steimel of the Farm Bureau Spokesman about the Iowa leading indicators that show strong performance.  Steimel wanted to know how important improved farm income was for the Iowa economy.
    • Swenson was also interviewed by Richard Lee, a news anchor for WHO Radio/Iowa Radio Network/Clear Channel News. Lee was looking to interview an expert who can comment on whether the rural flooding in southwest Iowa will just accelerate the process of smaller towns there "drying up", so to speak, such as Hamburg.
    • Scott Kilman of the Wall Street Journal and Frank Morris of KCUR who was doing a report for NPR called CARD Director Bruce Babcock for a comment on the Senate's vote Thursday to kill the ethanol subsidy. Kilman wanted to know what kind of effect the loss of the subsidy would have on ethanol production.
    • Angie Hunt, Ames correspondent KCCI-TV, contacted News Service seeking assistance arranging an interview with Chad Hart, an assistant professor of economics in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, to discuss the Senate vote to eliminate ethanol subsidies and the impacts on the industry and Iowa. Dave Swenson was also interviewed earlier in the day by Hunt on the topic. Jackie Schmid, a reporter with KGAN, also interviewed Swenson about the topic.

Funding Opportunities

  • Funding opportunity - agricultural risk management

    PURPOSE: to deliver crop insurance education and risk management training to U.S. agricultural producers to assist them in identifying and managing production, marketing, legal, financial and human risk.

    This program is a combination of two previous programs: “Commodity Partnerships for Small Agricultural Risk Management Education Sessions” and “Community Outreach and Assistance Partnerships Program.” Grants will range from $20,000 to $100,000 for a project period of one year. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required. Priority is given to: 1) educating producers of crops currently not insured under Federal crop insurance, and 2) providing collaborative outreach and assistance programs for limited resource, socially disadvantaged and other traditionally underserved farmers and ranchers. Field specialists with project ideas should collaborate with campus faculty. See the guidelines for more details.

    http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements/

    DEADLNE: July 14, 2011

  • USDA scientific cooperation and exchange program with People's Republic of China

    Deadline: July 8, 2011 [Note: The RFA also shows the application deadline as June 27. CALS has contacted USDA requesting confirmation of the actual deadline.]

    SCEP allows U.S. and Chinese research teams to visit the partner country for up to 15 days in order to transfer knowledge and technology in agriculture. Teams may consist of up to five persons. SCEP is a cost share program. The U.S. team is responsible for the international airfare between the United States and China. China’s Ministry of Agriculture will cover all in-country program related expenses, including lodging, transportation, meals, translations, and cultural activities. U.S. teams will not receive direct funds and should not list expenses in the proposal. USDA does not provide funding to U.S. teams.

    More: http://www.fas.usda.gov/icd/grants/scep/scep.asp

  • Funding opportunity - rural cooperative development

    PURPOSE: to improve the economic condition of rural areas through cooperative development.

    Grants will support the establishment and operation of Centers that have the expertise, or that contract out for the expertise, to assist individuals or entities in the startup, expansion or operational improvement of rural businesses, especially cooperative or mutually-owned businesses. The program is administered through USDA Rural Development State Offices. The maximum award amount is $225,000; projects must be completed in a 12-month time period. The required match is 25% of the total project cost. Guidelines are available at:

    http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP-RCDG_Grants.html

    DEADLNE: July 22, 2011

Job Opportunities

  • Position announcements at University of Florida and Florida Department of citrus
  • Position announcement - assistant instructor, Rutgers University
  • Rabo AgriFinance position
  • 2011 extension associate position at K-State
  • Position announcement - Purdue University
  • Economics opportunities at the Dow Chemical Company

    PhD in Statistics, New College grad - https://dow.taleo.net/careersection/10020/jobdetail.ftl?job=1103722

    PhD in Economics/Econometrics, 3 years experience - https://dow.taleo.net/careersection/10020/jobdetail.ftl?job=1103849

  • Project manager, loss forecasting -- Discover Financial Services

    This role in the Loss Forecasting team will be responsible for developing forecasting models and frameworks for loss/delinquency of card and consumer lending portfolios.

    Responsibilities:

    • Establish and maintain an in-depth understanding of loss forecasting procedures including the dynamics of credit losses and the impact from internal/external environment for overall Discover portfolio.
    • Research and seek opportunities to enhance current loss forecasting models including exploring new methodologies and external data.
    • Perform validation and back testing on existing models.
    • Proactively identify portfolio and macro economic trends that may impact portfolio performance.
    • Strive for continuous improvement in the efficiency of current loss forecasting processes through automations and/or streamlining the work flows.

    Skill and Qualification Requirements:

    • Master’s degree in economics, finance, statistics, engineering or related quantitative field.
    • 2 or more years of experience in loss forecasting, time series analysis, statistical modeling (Auto regression, ARIMA etc) and portfolio analytics within Financial Services or related industries.
    • Proficiency in SAS and MS Excel. Experience in other statistical software and tools.
    • Demonstrated project management skills, including ability to prioritize, meet deadlines and follow through on completion of high-profile projects.

    Abhinav Anand | Discover, Senior Manager, Loss Forecasting, 2500 Lake Cook Road, Riverwoods IL 60015, P: 224.405.3021 F: 224.405.4128 abhinavanand@discover.com