As part of our Researcher Diversification Strategy, IPA supports researchers at different stages in their careers from and in low- and middle-income countries to build evidence-to-policy pipelines and enhance the quality of development research. This blog series features their journeys, achievements, and ongoing research to tackle critical issues in the countries where IPA works.

Precious Fasakin's path to economics was shaped by her experience as the youngest of four children in a Nigerian immigrant family in California. Growing up with limited resources, she developed a deep interest in understanding and addressing social issues through an economic lens.

As a working-class Black woman pursuing a PhD, Fasakin encountered significant systemic barriers in academia. These challenges led to IPA and Research in Color, which supports mentees and early-career PhD students from low- and middle- income countries interested in development economics and policy to build evidence-to-policy pipelines and enhance the quality of development research.

For Fasakin, comprehensive support extends beyond financial assistance. She notes the stark difference in resources available to her compared to her peers, many of whom come from families with academic backgrounds. This observation is supported by a study from the Journal of Economic Perspectives, which shows persistent underrepresentation of women and racial minorities in U.S. economics professions, with PhD recipients in economics more likely to have parents with graduate degrees compared to other disciplines.

To address these disparities, IPA partnered with Research in Color to expand funding initiatives to reach scholars earlier in their academic careers. 

“Collaborations like these demonstrate a real investment in scholars like me,” Fasakin said. “They’re not just saying they care about diversity—they’re showing it.”

Currently pursuing her PhD at the University of California, San Diego, Fasakin studies political economy and environmental economics through the lens of migration, resource extraction, border conflicts and global disarmament.

For IPA and similar organizations, Fasakin suggests expanding funding initiatives to reach scholars earlier in their academic journeys. 

“Five years in a PhD program goes by quickly.You have to commit to your dissertation topic early, and without proper preparation, it’s easy to feel lost. Early interventions can change that.” 

Fasakin emphasizes the importance of considering nuance and local context while challenging traditional academic practices. She believes that incorporating cultural, political, and social realities makes research more relevant and impactful.

Her advice to aspiring economists is to train to be rigorous while staying true to principles and letting curiosity guide research. She stresses the importance of remembering the human aspect behind data points and maintaining a balance between academic rigor and community commitment.

As Fasakin progresses in her career, she represents hope for future scholars, demonstrating that with proper support, significant achievements are possible in the field of economics.