Marcelo S. O. Goncalves

I am an Assistant Professor in the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, where I am also affiliated with the Institute for Global Change Biology (IGCB).

My research examines how institutions, incentives, and individual behavior shape the design, implementation, and impacts of environmental and development policies, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. Drawing on insights from political science and economics, I adopt an interdisciplinary approach to identify the conditions under which policy interventions generate durable environmental and development gains in support of sustainable development. My work combines causal inference, field experiments, and geospatial analysis to study challenges such as deforestation, climate resilience, and public service delivery.

My research agenda is informed by nearly 15 years of experience as a Specialist in Public Policy and Management (EPPGG) in the Brazilian federal government, where I contributed to numerous policy evaluations and led initiatives spanning food security, racial equity, and climate adaptation.

Originally from Brazil, I come from a working-class background and am a first-generation college graduate. I earned my Ph.D. in Public Policy from Duke University and hold master’s degrees in Economics from Duke; International Affairs (Public Policy) from the University of California, San Diego; and Political Science from the University of Brasília.

I am currently accepting PhD students. Prospective applicants interested in working with me should apply through SEAS’s regular PhD admissions process and list me as a potential advisor. Admissions decisions are made by the program’s admissions committee, not by individual faculty members.

You can reach me at: msog@umich.edu