Dr. Maria Lopez

Biography

Maria Claudia Lopez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University, specializing in natural resource management, environmental economics, and institutions. Her research employs a variety of methods including behavioral economics, institutional analysis, econometrics, ethnography, and participatory research to understand how rural communities can effectively manage commonly-held natural resources. Her work spans several countries, including Colombia, Spain, Peru, Costa Rica, the USA, Bolivia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Brazil. At MSU, she is part of an interdisciplinary team investigating the impacts of hydropower in the Brazilian Amazon and exploring alternatives to provide energy to off-the-grid communities while considering both environmental and social implications of dam projects. Her research has been published in notable journals such as PNAS and Global Environmental Change, contributing to the understanding of complex socio-environmental interactions. Maria Claudia has received recognition for her contributions, including the 2024 Distinguished Partnership Award from the International Community Engagement Research. She actively mentors both graduate and undergraduate students and was nominated for the Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award, winning the 2022 award from the Michigan State Graduate School. With a master's degree in rural development from Universidad Javeriana in Colombia and a PhD in Resource Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, her academic journey includes a postdoctoral fellowship at the Elinor Ostrom Workshop on Political Theory and Policy Analysis at Indiana University, focusing on governance and common property issues.

Research Interests

Experience