Academic Research

Weather is both a key production factor and one of the greatest sources of risk in agriculture worldwide. As climate change progresses, fluctuations in temperature and precipitation are expected to intensify, increasing uncertainty and vulnerability across farming systems in both the Global North and the Global South. The Farm Management Group studies the economic impacts of climate change on agricultural production at the farm level and how innovative financial instruments can help farmers manage weather-related production risks.

We are currently running a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that evaluates a bundled digital weather index insurance for smallholder maize producers in southern Mali. Baseline data on 1,500 smallholder farmers will be collected in November 2026, and the endline survey will follow in November 2027. During the internship, you will therefore work with fresh baseline data while helping to prepare the endline survey.

You will support our research project in Mali, for example, with:

If you like, you can also work on a small research project of your own using our baseline data from Mali. We are happy to discuss your ideas!

Beyond the Mali project, our group works on a range of other research questions on agricultural risk management, rural (micro)finance, and adaptation to climate change. Depending on your interests, there may also be opportunities to contribute to one of these projects.

Ideally, you are studying economics, agricultural economics, or a related field.

You are interested in research on the Global South and have some prior experience with data analysis, for example, through an econometrics course.