I am currently an assistant professor of economics in the Department of Economics and Decision Sciences at Western Illinois University, having completed an economics Ph.D. from Kansas State University in 2008.  My research work is in the areas of Health Economics, Labor and Demographic Economics, Applied Econometrics, and Applied Microeconomics.  I finished my Bachelor's in Economics in 2001 and my Master's in 2003 at Panjab University in India.  My research uses both econometric and theoretical frameworks to address issues in health economics, labor economics, and other areas of applied  microeconomics.  As a labor economist, I have made contributions to both the empirical and theoretical literature. My research interests can be grouped into two major categories: (1) issues related to early childhood development and (2) issues that either directly or indirectly determine labor market outcomes. Given my natural curiosity toward health and labor markets and the broad potential of these research areas, I look forward to continue along my established research path into the foreseeable future.  I hope also to establish new collaborations in order to improve my skills and provide new and important research findings.  My interests in teaching are quite broad and include, but not restricted to, Microeconomics, Econometrics, Labor Economics, Managerial Economics, Global issues and Health Economics. My enthusiasm for economics as a subject has leaded me to be successful in teaching and doing research in economics. I have learned a great deal from my teaching and research experience in the past and plan to continue in my pedagogical development.