Parthu Kalva

Parthu Kalva is a Ph.D. student in Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is originally from San Diego, California, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Physiology and Neuroscience from UC San Diego, as well as a dual master’s degree in Development Economics and Food and Nutrition Policy from Tufts University.

Prior to beginning his doctoral studies, Kalva worked in agricultural development as a Research Analyst at the International Food Policy Research Institute. In this role, he contributed to field research, impact evaluations, and policy engagement with partners supporting smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. These experiences strengthened his commitment to research that informs policy and addresses real-world constraints faced by farmers and institutions.

Kalva’s current research examines how automation and AI adoption are transforming farm labor demand, skill development, and rural economic resilience in the United States. He is particularly interested in how technology may alleviate labor shortages and how adoption processes reshape tasks, workforce skills, and organizational structures.

He intends to pursue a career at the intersection of research and policy, contributing to evidence-based strategies that help farmers and rural communities adapt to technological change.