Justin is Associate Professor in Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota. He also works closely with the Natural Capital Project at the University of Minnesota and Stanford University. His research focuses on how the economy affects the environment, and vice versa, on global to local scales. Specifically, he connect models of ecosystem services (how natural capital provides valuable services to humans) with general equilibrium economic models. To do this, Justin writes open-source software (Python, R, and C/C++) that uses big data (mostly from satellites) with economic modeling and machine-learning/AI techniques. He recently co-founded NatCap TEEMs, a research center in Applied Economics and a partner of Natural Capital Project.

Justin now focuses mostly on the GTAP-InVEST model, which links the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) out of Purdue University with the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model from the Natural Capital Project. The project aims to build strong quantitative evidence on how changes in ecosystem services affect economic performance at the macroeconomic level. He also continues development on the SEALS model, a land-use change prediction model, incorporating AI/ML techniques able to predict change globally at a fine resolution (10 to 300 meters). SEALS has been connected to multiple models, including GTAP, MAgPIE, GLOBIOM, and other Integrated Assessment models. Visit his research page for more information and details on additional projects.

In addition to ecosystem services, he also researches food security, climate change, agent-based modeling, AI/machine-learning, and agricultural management in developing countries. In my spare time, he is a mountain biker, rock climber and board game designer.