Pardee RAND Faculty

The Pardee RAND faculty is composed of a unique body of individuals. At many universities, some faculty members view teaching as a chore and try to "buy out of it" by obtaining research grants to cover their time. Because there are no teaching requirements at RAND, all Pardee RAND faculty members teach for only one reason: they love to.

Drawn principally from the doctoral staff of RAND's research units, Pardee RAND faculty members possess extensive experience both in conducting research and in teaching. A few distinguished scholars from outside RAND are also members of the faculty. Pardee RAND offers a faculty-student ratio that is probably among the best in the country. We have more than 220 faculty members who serve a student body of just over 100.

RAND researchers can become Pardee RAND faculty members by teaching courses, serving on dissertation committees, and/or supervising on-the-job training (OJT). Through these and other mechanisms, students have ready access to Pardee RAND's extensive faculty as well as RAND's staff of nearly 1,000 full-time researchers, who help with OJT and with dissertations.

Faculty Blog Posts

Department of Water and Power employees assess the damage from a broken 30-inch water main on Sunset Boulevard, next to the UCLA campus in the Westwood section of Los Angeles, July 30, 2014, photo by Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

Lessening Leakages: How Water Systems Can Learn From Smart Electric Grids

Mar 22, 2019

As drought and population growth place increasing pressure on water supply, the need to save and efficiently manage Southern California's water resources becomes increasingly critical. Student Jalal Awan (cohort 17) and professors Miriam Marlier and Michelle Miro suggest that a single information and communication technology platform could go a long way toward moving water utilities from reactive to proactive maintenance practices.

Oil barrel leaking oil grass, photo by RuslanDashinsky/Getty Images

Increasing Groundwater Reliance in L.A. County Means Dealing with Extensive Contamination

Mar 12, 2019

Advances in the information available on groundwater quality and contamination could help community water systems avoid health hazards and better ensure a safe drinking water supply, write Alexandra Huttinger (cohort '17) and professors Michelle Miro and Miriam Marlier.

Cyborg head using artificial intelligence to create digital interface 3D rendering, image by sdecoret/Adobe Stock

The Promise and Perils of AI: Q&A with Douglas Yeung

Feb 27, 2019

Prof. Douglas Yeung, a social psychologist at RAND, discusses how any technology reflects the values, norms, and biases of its creators. Bias in artificial intelligence could have unintended consequences. He also warns that cyber attackers could deliberately introduce bias into AI systems.

Skyline of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, illustration by Malte Muller

Resilience and Adaptation Strategies Can Address the Impacts of Climate Change

Feb 26, 2019

Climate change is already generating storms, heat waves, and droughts beyond historical norms and local governments need to do more to prepare. A decisionmaking framework developed by Pardee RAND faculty, including alum Jordan Fischbach (cohort '04), allows communities to stress-test ideas, weigh the trade-offs, and plan for a range of possible futures.

President Donald Trump walks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island in Singapore, June 12, 2018, photo by KCNA/Reuters

Engagement with North Korea: Small Steps May Matter More Than Big Ones

Feb 21, 2019

Kim Jong-Un has said he wants North Korea to become a normal country. Heejin Kim (cohort '18) and Prof. Rafiq Dossani say that agreeing to a series of short-term measures could reveal his truthfulness as much as large measures could. This could also pave the way to eventually achieving the larger goals.