Daniel Ayalew Mekonnen

Current Research Institution

Wageningen University and Research, Economic Research Institute, Wageningen (Netherlands)

Current Position(s)

Researcher

Research Interests

Daniel is a development economist, and his research interest lies in the field of food, nutrition and agricultural policy issues in low- and middle-income countries. His current research investigates the link between the food systems, consumer behavior and nutrient and dietary gaps in Ethiopia and Nigeria under the framework of agriculture for nutrition and health. He uses interdisciplinary conceptual tools to understand people’s behavior in production and consumption and the link with wellbeing outcomes. He applies micro-econometric models to infer policy options for improved wellbeing outcomes.

Why I recommend Bonn

I would recommend the University of Bonn to early-career researchers based on own experience at the Centre for Development Research (zef) between 2012 and 2017. The University of Bonn offers various opportunities to students to build their own capacity and become research scientists capable of conducting independent research. To mention just a few: access to resources to be able to conduct original research (for example for the purpose of primary data collection and analysis), resources to participate in academic workshops around the world, organized public lectures that span across disciplines, cultural exchange and training workshops, and other networking events. The fact that Bonn is a seat of some international organizations is a big plus as it often brings renowned scientists and policy makers together, and this creates opportunities to participate in policy discussions on globally relevant topics. These, I believe, would help early-career researchers to have depth in own field of study but also broaden scope and view of the world. The museums in Bonn, the social and cultural events that happen throughout the year make studying at the University of Bonn truly enjoyable.