Education

2014 SUST, B.S.S.
2017 University of Texas at ElPaso, M.S.
2020 University of New Hampshire, M.S.
2025 Washington State University, Ph.D.

Courses Taught

Introduction to Microeconomics
Intermediate Microeconomics
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Introduction to Econometrics

Career Specialties

Barai specializes in applied macroeconomics, with research interests in econometrics, energy and environmental economics, international trade, and AgEcon.

Professional and Community Activities

Barai’s research integrates applied macroeconomics, econometric modeling, and policy analysis to address complex issues in energy economics, agricultural trade, and public health. Her work employs both theoretical frameworks and rigorous empirical methods to explore how economic incentives, institutional structures, and external shocks affect resource allocation and trade outcomes. Her job market paper uses an error correction approach to examine the role of capital expenditures, market conditions and inventories in the proliferation of drilled but uncompleted oil wells across U.S. regions—highlighting regional heterogeneity, policy relevance, and the importance of future-oriented, environmentally informed energy research.

She also studies the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. meat and grain exports using structural gravity models and Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood estimation. This work evaluates how public health shocks and responses (e.g., vaccination, mortality) disrupt U.S. trade, contributing valuable insights to the literature and guiding future policy. Another strand of her research investigates optimal investment and international cooperation strategies for managing transboundary animal diseases. This project blends economic theory and empirical analysis to address spatial spillovers and global health risks, with a particular focus on livestock diseases like foot-and-mouth disease.

Barai actively contributes to the scholarly community through research presentations at Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) conferences and has been recognized with multiple fellowships and travel grants. Her ongoing collaborations and interdisciplinary interests underscore a commitment to producing impactful, policy-relevant research that advances economic sustainability, public health, and global trade resilience.

Barai also contributes as a reviewer for journals in applied economics and participates in interdisciplinary collaborations focused on sustainability, trade, and health equity.

Honors and Awards

SES Excellence in Teaching Award, Washington State University (2024) – Recognized for outstanding undergraduate instruction in economics.
AAEA Travel Grant (2022, 2023)
SES Endowment for Sustainable Development Fellowship, WSU (2023)
Scott & Betty Lukins Graduate Fellowship, WSU (2023) – Merit-based award supporting academic excellence in economic research.
Vice Chancellor Award, SUST (2020) – Highest academic distinction in the School of Social Sciences for graduating with the highest CGPA.
Prime Minister’s Gold Medal, Bangladesh (2018) – National-level award for academic excellence, given to the top- performing student in the School of Social Sciences for the 2008-2012 cohort.
National Collegiate Debate Championship Winner, Bangladesh (2008) – Secured first place in a national-level debate competition, demonstrating strong analytical and public speaking skills. 

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