Our Team
Who We Are
Dr. Sandro Steinbach is the Principal Investigator and Head of the Steinbach Research Group. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics at North Dakota State University. He also directs the Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies and is a Challey Institute Scholar. Sandro earned his BS degrees from the Humboldt University of Berlin and his MS degrees from the Humboldt University of Berlin and the University of California, Davis. In 2018, he completed his doctoral studies in Economics with the Center for Economic Research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. His research program relies on applied economics and data science methods to answer research questions relevant to agribusinesses, international trade and policy, human and animal health, and the environment.
Want to know more about Dr. Steinbach's bio and research program? Click here.
The Steinbach Research Group comprises Postdoctoral Researchers and Graduate Students supervised by Dr. Steinbach and his project partners. Click here to learn more about the Postdoctoral Scholars and here to get to know the Doctoral Researchers in the Steinbach Research Group.
Join our Team
The Steinbach Research Group always seeks engaged and enthusiastic graduate students. Please read more below to learn about rolling opportunities and whether our research program is a good fit for you. There are also ongoing opportunities for undergraduate and postdoctoral researchers. Prospective research group members should contact Dr. Steinbach directly to discuss research interests and funding.
Master, Ph.D. , and Postdoctoral Opportunities
The Steinbach Research Group welcomes applications from prospective graduate students interested in conducting research at the intersection between applied economics and data science with a particular focus on agriculture and the environment. Graduate students are formally admitted through the MS and Ph.D. programs in the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics and the Graduate School at North Dakota State University. They should contact Dr. Steinbach before applying to the program. As a prospective graduate student, you should review our projects and publications to determine whether the research themes and motivating questions resonate with your interests.
If you’re excited about the work that we do, you are encouraged to send an introductory email with a statement outlining how your research interests fit with those of the Steinbach Research Group and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree, your resume, and the names as well as the affiliations for three professional references who can speak about your preparation for research-intensive graduate training. The Steinbach Research Group also offers opportunities for Postdoctoral researchers and fellows. Interested individuals should contact Dr. Steinbach to discuss potential fellowship opportunities and research projects.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Volunteer in the Steinbach Research Group (also work-study and assistantships): We welcome undergraduates looking to gain early research experience by helping with our research program. Volunteer and work-study options are a great way to get involved. Please email Dr. Steinbach with a brief introduction to your interests and what you hope to gain from your experience in the Research Group. Occasionally, we hire undergraduates on paid assistantships (summer and/or academic year). Opportunities will be posted on this webpage and on the Student Jobs Board of North Dakota State University.
Independent research opportunities: We invite undergraduates seeking in-depth research experiences through independent study and honors theses. The NDSU Office of Undergraduate Research also provides several competitive funding mechanisms to support academic year and summer research experiences. Please reach out for more information.