Laura A. Bakkensen utilizes applied microeconomic and econometric methods to study the interplay between humans and the environment. Her research focuses on the economics of natural disasters, including evidence on the effectiveness of adaptation, post-disaster migration, and the impact of policy in shaping individual incentives. In addition, she uses Integrated Assessment Models in interdisciplinary collaborations to understand the economic impacts of climate and socioeconomic change. She also has experience with non-market valuation analyses. Her research is policy relevant and can be used to inform insurance regulation, post-disaster aid, hurricane warnings, and public adaptation projects. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from Yale University.