Sheheryar Banuri, a political economy doctoral student in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, has been named the 2008 Vibhooti Shukla Fellow.
The Vibhooti Shukla fellowship was created by Satchit Srinivasan in remembrance of his wife, Vibhooti Shukla, a political economy professor who taught at UT Dallas from 1987 to 1992. The fellowship supports the studies of doctoral students in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, particularly those who show an interest in political economy and global development.
Srinivasan also helped create the Shukla Professorship in 2006. Dr. Todd Sandler, formerly of the University of Southern California, was named the Vibhooti Shukla Professor in that same year.
Dr. Sandler and former Shukla Fellows were on hand at the awards dinner Saturday, May 17, to congratulate Banuri and visit with Srinivasan. Some previous winners spoke and explained how the fellowship served as a jump-start and source of motivation in their research and careers.
As the 2008 winner, Banuri expressed great gratitude and explained his current research. He is working with economics professors Rachel Croson and Catherine Eckel at the Center for Behavioral Experimental Economic Science to study corruption and political development using experimental methodology. He’ll continue his study in Pakistan this summer and will present the research at the First International Workshop on Economic Aspects of Corruption hosted by the Economic Research Institute of Iran this fall.
During his remarks, Sandler explained how the Shukla professorship enabled him to create the UT Dallas Center for Global Collective Action. The center will help people at UT Dallas network with the rest of the world in the study of the challenges confronting humankind today.
Srinivasan was touched to see the impact his contributions have made. “It’s heartwarming to see this fellowship and professorship taking on lives of their own. It’s nice to see such significant returns,” he said.
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| Sheheryar Banuri will continue his study in Pakistan this summer and present his research in the fall. |