Doctoral Students - Economics

 
Syeda Jahirin Aktari
Doctoral Student
Faner Hall, 4126
syedajahirin.aktari@siu.edu

Syeda Jahirin Aktari earned her BSS in Economics and MS in Applied Economics from Brac University, Bangladesh. Prior to beginning her PhD program at SIUC in Fall 2022, she worked as a Deputy Manager at BRAC Migration Programme, Bangladesh. Her research interests include Macroeconomics and Development Economics.

Nouf Alshehri
Doctoral Student
nouffayez.alshehri@siu.edu

 
Obed Asare
Doctoral Student
obed.asare@siu.edu

Obed Asare graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Statistics from the University of Ghana in 2013. He got a commonwealth shared scholarship to read a Master of Science (MSc) International Finance and Economic Development at the University of Kent and graduated in 2016. Prior to joining the PhD Economics program at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Obed worked with the Trades Union Congress (Ghana) as a researcher for more than six years. He also worked with the Ghana Statistical Service on the Integrated Business Establishment Survey in 2014. His interests include understanding monetary policy frameworks and its transmission in emerging economies, the role of capital flows and the exchange rate in an integrated global economy. Obed is also interested in macroeconomic stabilization policies and the role of fiscal policy in alleviating poverty and inequality in developing economies.

 
Amri A. Asmara
Doctoral Student
Faner Hall, 4034
amri.asmara@siu.edu

Amri Anjas Asmara earned his BSc degree in Economics from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia and MSc in Economics from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom. Prior to beginning his doctoral program, he worked in the Indonesia Stock Exchange and in Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. His research interest lies in the fields of Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics.

 
Kofi A. Asuako
Doctoral Student
Faner Hall, 4038
kofi.asuako@siu.edu

Kofi Asuako is an aspiring research economist specializing in Macro-Finance and Monetary Economics, with deep insights into inflation dynamics, financial markets, and systemic risks. He rigorously explores how financial frictions, monetary factors, and macroeconomic dynamics interact with and influence the business cycle. Equipped with a strong quantitative and analytical foundation, a significant focus of his work is on the sources and propagation of systemic risk and understanding the Macro-Finance feedback loop. Moreover, Kofi critically assess the implications of monetary policy and macroprudential measures on the broader economy's stability and growth trajectories.

Kofi earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, and furthered his studies with a master's degree in Economics from Eastern Illinois University. 

Olamide Awomoyi
Doctoral Student
olamide.awomoyi@siu.edu

Gautam Kumar Biswas received his bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from Khulna University, Bangladesh, and Master of Arts in Economics from International University of Japan. Prior to starting his Ph.D., he worked for the Central Bank of Bangladesh. His research interest lies in the field of Development Economics, Agricultural Economics, and International Economics. He was awarded a Doctoral fellowship in 2022-23 and a Dissertation Research Assistantship in 2024-25.

Gautam works on climate change economics, exploring the impact of climate shocks on agricultural productivity in Bangladesh. He also assesses the implications of climate change on income disparities in Bangladesh.

 
Lange Chen
Doctoral Student
Faner Hall, 4040
lange.chen@siu.edu
618-453-5080

Lange Chen received her bachelor's and master's degree in accountancy from SIU. She also received a master's degree in economics from SIU. Lange's research interests are in Microeconomics. 

 
Motunrayo Dada
Doctoral Student
motunrayofelicia.dada@siu.edu

Motunrayo Dada earned her Bachelor of Science in Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria and Master of Science in Economics and Finance from De Montfort University, United Kingdom.

She began her doctoral program at SIU in Fall 2024. Her research interests lie in the field of Macroeconomics, International Economics, and Monetary Economics. Motunrayo is from Nigeria and loves traveling and socializing.

Prior to commencing her graduate studies, Motunrayo worked with Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria for seven years.

 
Mahesh Dhole
Doctoral Student
Faner Hall, 4036
mahesh.dhole@siu.edu
618-453-5092

Mahesh Dhole, from India, holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Arts in Economics. He began his PhD in Economics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Fall 2022. His research interests include Development Economics, Labor Economics, and Monetary Economics. In his free time, he enjoys playing the piano, learning new languages, hiking, and socializing.

 
Yaren U. Gocer
Doctoral Student
Faner Hall, 4040
yaren.gocer@siu.edu

Yaren Ulker Gocer earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 2021 in Economics with a Quantitative Economics Option and a minor in Mathematics from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She started SIU Carbondale’s doctoral program in Economics in Fall 2021. Her main research interest is Macroeconomics. Yaren is from Turkey and enjoys nature, socializing with friends, and cooking.

 
Wahid Haider
Doctoral Student
wahid.haider@siu.edu

Wahid Haider joined SIU in Fall 2023. He received his undergraduate degree from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh in Development Studies and completed his Master's in Applied Economics from Illinois State University in 2023. He worked as a researcher at 'Unnayan Onneshan', a multi-disciplinary think-tank in Dhaka. His research interest is in Development Economics and Macroeconomics.

Basirat Hammed
Doctoral Student
basiratadebimpe.hammed@siu.edu

Basirat Hammed is from Nigeria. She earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (Abaud) in Nigeria in 2015, coming to SIU in 2023. Prior to the PhD program, she worked as an audit and account officer at Boevi Lawson & Co. She also worked with Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in Nigeria as a customer relations officer. Also in 2020, she began a start-up fashion brand.

Basirat’s interest includes understanding trade relationships between emerging economies and developed as the attraction and flow of direct investment and aid to emerging economies. She also explores how monetary and fiscal policy impacts emerging economies that are less stable than those commonly studied.

Anusha Illukkumbura
Doctoral Student
anusha.illukkumbura@siu.edu
618-453-5038

Anusha Illukkumbura came to SIU in 2022. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Statistics from the University of Kelaniya and a Master’s degree in Business Statistics from the University of Moratuwa, both in her home country of Sri Lanka. Her research interests are International Economics and Monetary Economics.

Before coming to the USA, Anusha worked as an entrepreneurship development trainer for the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Sri Lanka, where she honed her skills in small and medium business consulting and training. Demonstrating her passion for making statistics accessible, she self-published the "Easy Statistics Series" on Amazon, a book series designed to simplify complex statistical concepts for learners.

 
Mahatab Khandakar
Doctoral Student
mahatabkabir.khandaker@siu.edu

Mahatab completed his BS in Economics with a minor in Mathematics from North South University Bangladesh in 2022 and joined the PhD program in Economics at SIUC in 2023. He previously worked with the Accreditation Project Team at NSU SBE as a guest worker and a research assistant in the Economics Research Platform lab. His research interests are energy and environmental economics.

 
Alexa Laska
Doctoral Student
alexa.laska@siu.edu

Alexa Laska earned her B.S. in Economics and History from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oneonta in May 2022, and M.P.S. in Applied Economics and Management (International and Development Economics) from the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University in May 2023. During the Spring 2022 semester, Alexa was awarded the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence for her commitment to academics and co-curricular involvement in the Oneonta community. In October 2022, Alexa won third place at the New York State Economics Association Annual Paper Competition for her undergraduate capstone paper discussing early-life adversity and associated obstacles to educational attainment, and their subsequent adult-outcomes across the spectrum of gender identities in the United States.

In the Fall of 2023, she began her PhD studies at SIU and hopes to expand on and enrich her previous work discussing topics of gender, education, and broader social development areas.

Hala Nour
Doctoral Student
hala.nour@siu.edu

Hala Nour graduated from Al-Najah International University in Nablus, Palestine, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Science. Before coming to SIU, she worked in NGO’s in Palestine. Her research focuses on international trade.

Muiz Olasupo
Doctoral Student
muizajibola.olasupo@siu.edu

Muiz Olasupo focuses on Empirical Macroeconomics, Development Economics, and Applied Econometrics. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Following his undergraduate studies, he assumed the role as a Social and Economic Researcher at the Centre for Econometrics and Applied Research (CEAR), where he contributed to key research initiatives in economic policy and applied research. Driven by a passion for deepening his expertise, Muiz pursued a Master’s degree in Economics at the University of Lagos.
Outside of his academic and professional pursuits, Muiz enjoys exploring innovations in economic modeling, contributing to development forums, and mentoring young economists in applied research.

His research interests are in Monetary Economics, Macroeconomics and Foreign Direct Investments.

Sunder Regmi
Doctoral Student
sunder.regmi@siu.edu

Sunder Regmi received his Master of Business Administration-MBA in Global Leadership and Management degree from Tribhuvan University-Nepal with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) specialization and Master’s in Social Innovation Degree from Handong Global University-South Korea with Social Entrepreneurship Specialization.

He was admitted to SIUC’s Master of Science in Economics STEM program in Fall 2021 with a full tuition waiver and a Graduate Assistantship. After his successful completion of MS in Economics degree, his dedication and commitment towards Economics led to an admission to Doctoral program.
Prior coming to USA, he taught mathematics for lower secondary level, worked as an advertisement production and editor in television, served nation as a short-term policeman, and taught management in private college.

His research interests are in Monetary Economics, Macroeconomics and Foreign Direct Investments.

Samiha Binte Tariq
Doctoral Student
samiha.bintetariq@siu.edu

Samiha Binte Tariq started her doctoral candidacy in Economics at SIUC in 2024. Prior to that, she received her Master of Science degree in Economics from SIUC in 2024. She earned her Bachelor's degree from BRAC University in Bangladesh in 2019. Samiha worked as a Research Associate and Program Manager within a research unit at BRAC Business School. Her research interests include Development Economics, Monetary Economics, and Behavioral Economics. In her leisure time, she enjoys drawing, painting, and meditating.

 
Agossou Justin Tovilode
Doctoral Student
Faner Hall, 2068
justin.tovilode@siu.edu

Agossou Justin Tovilode is a Ph.D. student from Benin Republic (West Africa) where he earned his initial master's degree in agricultural economics. Before coming to the U.S., he dedicated nearly 9 years to impactful work within International Non-Governmental Organizations, undertaking diverse responsibilities and traversing various West African nations. Benefiting from a Fulbright scholarship program, he pursued his second master's degree in Agribusiness Economics at SIU in 2022 before transitioning to the School of Analytics, Finance, and Economics for his Ph.D.

 
Weikang Zhang
Doctoral Student
Faner Hall, 2064
weikang.zhang@siu.edu

Weikang Zhang earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from SIUC in 2022. He received a Master of Science degree in Economics from SIUC in 2024. He began his PhD in Economics at SIUC in Fall 2024. His research goal is to provide practical solutions that can help the general public achieve better economic outcomes.