Home university: University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil Duration of the Fellowship: 12 months (1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027) Research interests Why did you apply for the fellowship? What would you like to achieve during the course of the fellowship? Göttingen at first (and second) sight? What do you do when you are not doing research?
Dr. Pedro Henrique Batista de Barros
My research focuses on development and environmental economics, with interests in the interactions between economic development, institutions, natural resources, and environmental sustainability. I study topics such as tropical deforestation, biodiversity conservation, land-use change, oil and gas exploration, and the impacts of public policies in developing countries. My work combines causal inference with geospatial data and other quantitative methods to generate evidence that can support better policymaking.
The Stephan Klasen Fellowship provides a unique opportunity to dedicate myself fully to my research agenda in an outstanding academic environment. It offers the time and intellectual freedom to advance ongoing projects, pursue new research directions, and engage with researchers from different disciplines and backgrounds. I was particularly attracted by the opportunity to join the Development Economics Group and the Ibero-America Institute for Economic Research at the University of Göttingen, which together provide an excellent environment for exchanging ideas, receiving valuable feedback, and further exploring the links between development, institutions, and the environment.
During the fellowship, I hope to make significant progress on several ongoing research projects and bring them closer to publication. I also look forward to exchanging ideas with colleagues, receiving constructive feedback, and developing new collaborations. More broadly, I would like to use this time to develop new empirical approaches, particularly by combining causal inference with geospatial data, to strengthen the evidence base for environmental policymaking.
One of the things I appreciate most about Göttingen is its location in the heart of Germany, which makes it easy to explore different regions of the country and Europe during my free time. At the same time, it offers a much calmer pace of life than the larger cities where I lived during previous stages of my academic career. Combined with its strong academic community, Göttingen provides an ideal environment for developing new ideas, making steady progress on ongoing research projects, and enjoying a high quality of life with considerably less day-to-day stress.
Outside research, I enjoy travelling and hiking, especially exploring new landscapes and spending time in nature. I also like learning new languages, reading, cooking, and discovering different cultures. Spending time with friends and family, as well as staying active at the gym, helps me maintain a healthy balance outside academic life.
