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AAEA South Asia Section (SAS)
Graduate Student Symposium on October 23, 2026
Call for Papers

Deadline for Submission: September 14, 2026, 11:59 PM CT

This program is supported by the AAEA Trust

The AAEA South Asia Section (SAS) invites graduate students to submit their research papers for the 2026 SAS Graduate Student Symposium. Job-market candidates are particularly encouraged to submit their job market papers. The symposium will offer a structured, inclusive platform for graduate students to present their ongoing research and receive substantive feedback from faculty and peers, supporting AAEA's broader commitment to strengthening research capacity, promoting methodological rigor, and preparing the next generation of agricultural and applied economists.

Note: Research papers do not need to focus on South Asia region. All topics within agricultural and applied economics are welcome. The requirement is that the presenting student be a SAS member, not that the research itself pertains to South Asia.

Eligibility
This program is open to AAEA members. Applicants must also:

  • Be enrolled in a PhD program, 3rd year or above as of August 2026
  • Become a member of the AAEA South Asia Section (SAS) before submitting
  • Selected presenters are required to serve as discussants for one other selected paper

Not yet a SAS member? Joining is free for graduate students who are current AAEA members. Simply join SAS before you submit your application. To join SAS, you will need to login to your AAEA member account here, and then go to “My Account” and “Click here” to join/renew additional AAEA Sections.

Submission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following using the Google Form link:

  • Anonymized Research Paper (unpublished, ideally from their dissertation work)
  • Cover letter (max. of one page outlining why you would like to participate in the symposium)
  • Confirmation of their SAS membership
  • Each student may submit only one paper

Deadline:
September 14, 2026, 11:59 PM CT

Selection Process
An independent selection panel will review all submissions and select 6 students to present at the symposium. Applicants will be notified of the panel's decision by the first week of October 2026. Selected students must confirm their participation within 3 days of notification.

Symposium Format
Date: October 23, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM CT
Format: Virtual

Each of the 6 selected students will:

  • Present their paper for 15 minutes
  • Receive 5 minutes of discussion from another randomly assigned presenter (from among the 6 selected students), and in turn serve as discussant for one other paper
  • Engage in 5 minutes of open Q&A and feedback

Awards
Each of the six selected presenters will receive:

  • $200 from the AAEA Trust
  • A certificate of participation

The award is made per selected paper to the presenting student. Co-authors are not eligible for separate awards or certificates, and the award is not divided among co-authors.

About This Program
The proposed AAEA SAS Graduate Student Symposium aligns with and advances key action items outlined in the AAEA Access Taskforce Report. In particular, it focuses on expanding access to professional development opportunities, reducing structural barriers to participation, and strengthening mentorship pipelines within the Association. The combination of a virtual research forum and targeted support creates an inclusive, scalable, and cost-effective model for increasing student engagement and fostering long-term participation in AAEA activities.

Questions?
Contact: Dr. Anubhab Gupta (anubhab@vt.edu), SAS Chair; Dr. Modhurima Amin (Modhurima.amin@ttu.edu), SAS Past-Chair

Past Events

Track Sessions

2024

  • Food, Water, Energy, and Trade in South Asia
    Organizer: Aditya R. Khanal (Tennessee State University)

    South Asia region has intricate challenges around food and nutritional security, water scarcity, energy access, and trade dynamics. These issues and factors related to food, water management, energy sustainability, and trade policies also shape development and stability in the region. The presentations and discussions in the session highlighted these aspects, including empirical findings on energy transition in agriculture and land market pathways in Bangladesh, adoption and implications of sustainable energy use practices in farm water management in Nepal, implications of climate change, price volatility, and trade policy in South Asian grain markets and India, as well as the link of green revolution and obesity in India.

    Lead-off speaker: Ashok K. Mishra (Arizona State University)

    Lightening paper presenters/ speaker: Marie-Charlotte Buisson (IWMI-CGIAR); Kayode M. Ajewole (USDA - Economic Research Service); Kashi Kafle (Texas A & M); Madhuri Saripalle (Krea University, India); Ethan Sabala (USDA), Kumar Ashutosh (Krea University, India)

    Discussant: Dikshit Poudel (University of Georgia)

2023

  • South Asian Agriculture in the Twenty-first Century: Poverty Alleviation and Sustaining Resources