Junior Scholar Program

The Junior Scholars Program (JSP) seeks to promote the professional development of junior researchers in urban economics and real estate finance and connect them to more senior people in their field. The program also enhances diversity among future AREUEA members and enables established members to give back to AREUEA.

Any early-career scholar in urban economics or real estate who is no more than four years post-Ph.D., including Ph.D. students on the market, can apply. The submission portal for the 2026 AREUEA National Conference provides instructions on how to apply for the 2026 cycle.

2025 Junior Scholars 

• Yifan Chen, University of Hawaii an Manao
• Gi Heung Kim, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
• Sowon Kim, University of Auckland
• Wonjong Kim, University of Alabama
• Mike Mei, Colgate University
• Wesley A. Miller, Texas A&M University
• Sidharth Moktan, University of Alberta
• Grace Ortuzar, University of Notre Dame
• Sarah Strochak, NYU
• Weizhao Sun, Grand Valley State University
• Qian Wang, Purdue University
• Jingwen Zheng, George Washington University

We are grateful for our 2025 Mentors:

• Alina Arefeva (University of Wisconsin - Madison)
• Leah Brooks (George Washington University)
• Daniel Hartley (Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago)
• Greg Howard (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
• Gary Painter (University of Cincinnati)
• Oren Ziv (Michigan State University)

JSP Committee

• Walter D’Lima (Florida International University)
• Sonia Gilbukh (Baruch College, CUNY)
• Benjamin Keys (University of Pennsylvania)
• Jeff Lin (Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia)
• Kyle Mangum (Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia)
• Lyndsey Rolheiser (York University)
• Tingyu Zhou (Florida State University, Chair)

To view the 2024 Junior Scholar Program participants, mentors, and committee, click HERE.