Dr. Liaila Tajibaeva is an Associate Professor at the Department of Economics, Augsburg University where she is also an affiliated faculty at the Environmental Studies program and a recipient of the Distinguished Contribution in Teaching Award. Tajibaeva earned her PhD in Applied Economics with a focus on environmental economics and economic development from the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on sustainable economic development, in particular the role of natural capital in economic growth and the impact of economic growth on the environment. Her current projects combine structural economic modeling integrating it with both intertemporal and spatial data over a diverse range of topics, including the relationship across the environment, institutions, and economic growth, the role of ecosystem services in urban development, energy, and coastal economies. Tajibaeva worked with international organizations, including the Policy and Economics Team of the Environment Department at the World Bank as well as the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Group at the World Bank.