Robyn Meeks

Robyn Meeks is the Mark and Lynne Florian Associate Professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University and a research affiliate of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). Her work bridges environmental economics, energy policy, and development economics, focusing on individual and household responses to water and electricity technologies in developing countries.

• Education: Ph.D. (Harvard University, 2012), M.E.M. (Yale University, 2005), B.A. (Brown University, 2000)

Her research explores the intersection of climate policy, energy access, and infrastructure development, particularly in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the United States. Current projects examine smart meter impacts, decentralized renewable energy, and behavioral interventions to reduce electricity theft. Articles published in journals like American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, and Energy Economics analyze electricity reliability, energy efficiency investments, and policy design.

Scientific Awards:

• Visiting Climate Fellow at Harvard Business School’s Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society (BiGS), 2023–2024

Advising: Mentors graduate students including Gigil Ghosh, Ian Ferguson, Caitlin Bonney, and Gordon Li in projects related to energy transitions and infrastructure sustainability. Her grants include funding for International Growth Centre (IGC) studies on electricity payment compliance in Pakistan and smart meter rollouts in Kyrgyzstan.