معرفی
Dr. Levan Elbakidze is a Professor and Graduate Coordinator for the Ph.D. program in Natural Resource Economics at the School of Natural Resources and the Environment within the Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at West Virginia University. He also serves as a faculty research associate at the Regional Research Institute and at the Center for Innovation in Gas Research and Utilization at WVU.
Dr. Elbakidze earned his BS and MS from the University of Nevada, Reno, and his PhD from Texas A&M University. Prior to joining WVU in 2015, he served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Idaho (2008-2015), where he received tenure in 2014. At WVU, he earned tenure in 2018 and was promoted to Full Professor in 2022.
Dr. Elbakidze's research program primarily focuses on natural resource economics, with particular emphasis on water resource economics, management of invasive species and pests, energy economics, and the application of experimental economics to environmental problems. His work often involves interdisciplinary modeling of complex systems where human and biophysical components interact. He has secured research funding from prestigious sources including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geologic Survey, and the Nature Conservancy.
His research portfolio demonstrates a strong commitment to addressing pressing environmental challenges through economic analysis, with recent work spanning water quality issues (including PFAS contamination), agricultural trade impacts on the environment, food safety economics, and the socioeconomic dimensions of energy development. His publications appear in top journals including Water Resources Research, Resource and Energy Economics, and Agricultural and Resource Economics Review.
- Water Economics and Policy Editor's Choice for 2023
- Featured on AGU Science News Editor Highlight (top 2% of publications)
As Graduate Coordinator since 2018, Dr. Elbakidze plays a key role in mentoring the next generation of environmental and resource economists. His teaching interests align closely with his research, covering graduate and undergraduate courses in water resources economics, energy economics, environmental economics, and quantitative methods. Dr. Elbakidze's work bridges theoretical economic principles with practical environmental challenges, contributing valuable insights for policymakers addressing complex resource management issues.
