Her research centers on understanding the impact economic instability has on household welfare. Economic insecurity is also linked to economic inequality. It plays a major role in household decision-making and in the response of public policy that insures individual livelihoods from exposure to risk. Prior to joining the University of Delaware, she was an assistant professor (lecturer) of economics at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She received her Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University and her B.A. in economics from Brown University.