Dr. Ian T. S. Helfrich
Trade economist working at the intersection of international trade, geospatial analysis, networks, and microeconomic theory. Primary research field: international trade. Secondary fields: geospatial economics, microeconomic theory, networks. PhD in Economics from Georgia Tech (2024) under Tibor Besedes and Usha Nair-Reichert. Twin master's degrees from Georgia Tech (Economics 2019, Geographic Information Science and Technology 2022). Prior degrees from Indiana University Bloomington (MA Economics 2017), Barcelona School of Economics (MSc Economics & Public Policy 2015), and UNC Chapel Hill (BA Economics and Political Science 2014). Working languages: English, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian. Based in Smyrna, Georgia.
- international trade and gravity models
- trade networks and effective distance
- geospatial economics and remote sensing
- microeconomic theory and optimal transport
- applied econometrics for trade and policy
PhD in Economics from Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024. Primary research field international trade; secondary fields geospatial economics, microeconomic theory, and networks. Advisors: Dr. Tibor Besedes and Dr. Usha Nair-Reichert.
Earlier work: MS in Geographic Information Science and Technology at Georgia Tech (2022, advisor Dr. William Drummond, primary research on remote detection of economic growth and environmental health using multi- and hyper-spectral remote sensing). MS in Economics at Georgia Tech (2019, network effects in gravity models of international trade). MA in Economics at Indiana University Bloomington (2017, international trade, game theory, financial networks). MSc in Economics and Public Policy at the Barcelona School of Economics (2015, thesis on the Pico y Placa driving restrictions in Quito, Ecuador; finalist in the BGSE Public Policy Thesis Competition). BA in Economics with Political Science from UNC Chapel Hill (2014). Summer school at the London School of Economics (2013, International Economics and European Economic Integration).
Teaching: Instructor of record at Georgia Tech (Econ 2106 Principles of Microeconomics, Econ 2100 Economics and Policy Problems). Graduate teaching assistant across the Georgia Tech Economics department (Econ 2105, 3110, 4180, 4357, 4520, 7023) and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE 6250, 6271). Earlier graduate TA appointments at Duke University (Global Executive MBA: STRATEGY 835, MGRECON 780, STRATEGY 836) and Indiana University (ECON 201, 327, 425). Inaugural cohort of Graduate Teaching Fellows at the Georgia Tech Center for Teaching and Learning (2018-19). Instructor at Campus / Campuswire (online university, MTI College partnership) since July 2022.
Service: Vice President for Campus Services in Georgia Tech Graduate Student Government (2019-20). Graduate Senator (2018-20); Senator of the Year (2020).
Working languages: English, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian. Third-degree black belt, Sin Moo HapKiDo (instructor since 2007).