Postdoc Spotlight: Alipio Ferreira, J-PAL '23, on his research journey at J-PAL LAC

In our postdoc alumni spotlight series, we spoke with Alipio Ferreira, J-PAL '23, about his experience as a postdoctoral researcher at J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean.

What drew you to the field of development, and in particular, enforcement issues of environmental policy and public finance? What questions have motivated your research?
Growing up in Brazil, I have always been intrigued by whether policies can lift people out of poverty, make economic progress, or make matters worse. This eventually led me to public economics, which focuses on when and how government intervention is necessary, and further into environmental topics, where markets often fail to manage resources efficiently, leading to overexploitation or unnecessary damage.

A key aspect of my research is understanding how enforcement plays a role in shaping effective policies. Once governments intervene, they must consider how to ensure compliance without wasting resources. For example, should policies take the form of taxes, bans, or more nuanced approaches? The challenge lies in balancing enforcement costs with the effectiveness of the policy, as people will often try to evade regulations, which creates additional inefficiencies. Ultimately, I’m trying to understand how enforcement costs influence policy choices and how these choices impact environmental outcomes.

What was your motivation for doing a PhD, and what attracted you to a postdoc at J-PAL?
My motivation for pursuing a PhD evolved over time. Initially, after completing my undergrad, I was focused on public finance and wanted to work in policymaking. I spent almost two years working at a public institution in Brazil and then pursued a master’s degree with the intention of continuing in some form of policymaking institution. During this time, I began to develop an interest in environmental issues.

I worked for a year at an energy and environmental consultancy in the Netherlands, and then I realized I wanted to transition to a more academic career. I was drawn to the idea of delving deeper into specific topics and also wanted to explore teaching. So, I decided to pursue a PhD, even though I didn’t take the shortest route. I don’t necessarily recommend taking this longer path if you already know you want to do research, but for me, it was important to take the time to figure out what I wanted to do and how to best invest my skills.

I completed my PhD at Toulouse School of Economics and then joined J-PAL as a postdoctoral research fellow for one year. I appreciated the opportunity to do academic research while engaging closely with policymakers and other organizations trying to generate impact. Of course, I also greatly admire the academic work by many J-PAL affiliates, and it was a privilege to interact with many of them during that time. On a more personal note, the postdoc position was based in Brazil, and I was happy to spend some time in my home country after many years abroad.

You were a postdoc with J-PAL’s King Climate Action Initiative (K-CAI) through J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). What excited you most about working with K-CAI and J-PAL LAC, and what are some things you learned from that experience?
My time as a postdoc with K-CAI and J-PAL LAC was a steep learning curve, as I was based in Rio de Janeiro, while J-PAL LAC’s offices are in Santiago, Chile and São Paulo. Despite this, I had the opportunity to engage regularly with teams from all three locations, each with different objectives and approaches.

What excited me most was working alongside J-PAL's talented and technically skilled staff, who not only excel in academic research but also have a strong sense of practical, impactful policy solutions. The motivation to generate impact is really in J-PAL’s DNA. I was very grateful that the postdoc allowed me to pursue some paths that were risky, such as investing time with partners in the hope that some of these would lead to RCTs. J-PAL understood that this investment was risky but potentially high-return in terms of partnerships. While some of these initiatives worked out, others didn’t, but I believe part of J-PAL’s successful formula is this combination of entrepreneurial spirit, talking to many people, and tapping into your network to make projects happen.

How did you use the resources and networks available to you while at J-PAL?
While most people might associate J-PAL with its network of academics, the network I relied on most during my postdoc was the staff, both from J-PAL LAC and the K-CAI team. I regularly communicated with them and kept them informed of every step I took. This network was invaluable as we collaborated on events, webinars, and training sessions. What many might not realize is how much behind-the-scenes work happens at J-PAL. The administrative backing and connections provided by the team were crucial for my progress, making it easier for me to execute projects and navigate the process of conducting RCTs.

You’ve since taken your talents to Southern Methodist University in Texas as an assistant professor. How did your time at J-PAL help prepare you for it?
As an assistant professor at Southern Methodist University, my role involves balancing teaching and research, but with less time to focus on building partnerships, which I was able to do more during my postdoc. In this new role, the academic network from J-PAL has become more important, especially as I focus on writing papers and further developing my research.

The most valuable aspect of my postdoc was the opportunity to start and explore projects with greater flexibility, especially field experiments, which often take time to develop. Having initiated some of these projects during my postdoc, they are starting to take shape now that I am in my role as faculty. The postdoc experience was crucial for getting my feet into the world of field experiments and setting up projects that continue to evolve today.

What advice would you give PhD students who might be interested in pursuing a postdoc at J-PAL and/or a career in line with yours?
While it’s hard to give universal advice since everyone’s journey is unique, I’d suggest that PhD students interested in a postdoc at J-PAL or a similar career have a specific research topic in mind. It’s important to be proactive and arrive with ideas, especially when working with government agencies or private partners. Having a clear agenda makes it easier to communicate and collaborate effectively. In my experience, it helped to have already thought through some enforcement issues, which allowed me to engage in productive conversations with teams in Brazil and Peru, rather than merely looking for existing randomization opportunities. 

For those aiming for an academic career, it’s important to build a coherent portfolio of research projects and be identifiable by a particular research focus. That said, many J-PAL postdocs join ongoing projects, which can be less risky. Both paths—building something from scratch or joining an existing project—are valuable, and it ultimately depends on what aligns best with your goals and interests.

Can you share a fun or memorable anecdote from your postdoc experience that made your time as a J-PAL postdoc special?
A memorable part of my postdoc experience was my unexpected connection with Peru. In my first days as a J-PAL fellow, I went there for a conference and started to look around for opportunities to work on environmental topics. Things unfolded from there, and the country quickly became a big part of my life, both personally and professionally. 

Since then, I have been working with the country’s environmental enforcement agency, an incredibly innovative organization with lots of interesting responsibilities. Together with IPA, we started putting together a portfolio of projects and an innovations lab, which is now taking shape. One memorable moment was a training session we conducted at an enforcement agency. We had a great turnout from the agency, and the training was not only productive but also a lot of fun. The event ended up being a highlight of my time, combining both meaningful work and an enjoyable experience.