Dr. Amlan Mitra

Amlan Mitra, Ph.D. is a Professor of Business Economics. His research focuses on economic impact analysis, public policy, transportation and economic development.

Contact Information

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Phone Number
(219) 989-2313

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Email
mitraa@pnw.edu

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Office Location
Hammond Campus, Classroom Office Building (CLO), Room 244

Academic Background

Dr. Amlan Mitra is Professor of Economics at Purdue University Northwest. His research is focused in applied and regional economics with a strong public policy orientation. His scholarship integrates economic theory with empirical practice through advanced econometric modeling, forecasting, and policy analysis to address regionally embedded economic challenges. He has secured external funding, served as Co-Principal Investigator and project coordinator on nationally supported research initiatives, published in peer-reviewed applied economics journals, and presented his work at academic conferences.

Dr. Mitra’s teaching emphasizes analytically rigorous and applied economics instruction tailored for business and social science students. He integrates experiential learning, case-based analysis, real-time economic data, and quantitative problem-solving to cultivate critical thinking and practical economic reasoning. His sustained commitment to pedagogical innovation includes completion of ACUE and PIVOT certifications, peer mentoring, and technology-enhanced instruction. His service-learning initiatives were recognized with a Service-Learning Fellowship Award from Purdue’s Office of Engagement.

Beyond research and teaching, Dr. Mitra has provided significant institutional leadership through Faculty Senate governance, such as, academic program review, curriculum development, experiential learning, general education assessment, promotion and tenure, university research board, strategic planning. At the national level, he provides professional service through organizations such as the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the National Economic Education Delegation, and the National Low Income Housing Coalition, strengthening connections between applied economic research and public policy practice.

  • Ph.D. – Economics, Northern Illinois University (Major: Public Finance)
  • M.U.R.P. – Urban & Regional Planning, Virginia Tech (Major: Urban & Regional Policy)
  • M.A. – Economics, Virginia Tech (Major: Public Finance)
  • M.S. – Economics, University of Calcutta (Major: Agricultural Economics)
  • B.S. – Economics, University of Calcutta

Research

Areas of Expertise – Economic Impact Analysis, Public Finance & Policy, Transportation & Regional Economic Development

Grants/Proposals:

  • “FORWARD Fostering Organic Resource Workforce with Apt Research and Design Skills,” Co-PI, Pending Grant proposal ($749,937, USDA-NIFA-AFRI-010693) submitted to Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture), December 5, 2024, Status – Pending,
  • “Socioeconomic Implications of Agrivoltaics in Farmlands,” Co-PI, Pending Grant proposal ($300,000, USDA-NIFA-AFRI-010453) submitted to Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Foundational and Applied Science Program, National Institute of Food & Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, October 31, 2024, Status – Pending,
  • “Improving Methodologies and Measurements of Housing Affordability for Underserved Communities,” ($325,651), Submitted to National Science Foundation, Principal Investigator, July 2024, Status – Not Funded.
  • “Homeownership and Housing Affordability in Northwest Indiana,” ($11,600), 2022 PNW Catalyst Grant, Status – Funded & Completed.
  • “Project TRAVERSE: agTech Robotics, Automation and Virtually Employed Resiliently Scaling Enterprises,” U.S. Economic Development Administration ($726,389); 2021, Status – Funded & Completed.
  •  “Problem-Based Learning through Simulation and Visualization of Transportation Disruptions and Economics Impacts,” ($600,000), Submitted to National Science Foundation (Principal Investigator), July 2021, Status – Not Funded.
  • “Visualization and Simulation to Improve Measurements of Economics Impacts of Disruptions of Transportation Network Systems,” ($12,000), 2020 PNW Catalyst Grant, Status – Funded & Completed.
  • “Estimating the Economic Impacts of Disruptions to Intermodal Freight Systems,” ($135,440), Project No. 053PY03 funded by the NEXTRANS Center, U.S. Department of Transportation, Region V, University Transportation Center, 2011, Status – Funded & Completed.
  • “Measuring Economic Impact of the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics Industry in Northwest Indiana,” ($115,000), Sponsored by the Lake County Integrated Services Delivery Board and Purdue University Calumet, 2005. Status – Funded & Completed.

Recent Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications & Conference Proceedings

Mitra, A (2026). “Economic Impacts of Robotics Technology in Remote Greenhouse Farming: Evidence from Northwest Indiana,” International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Economy.

Mitra, A & T. Kroon (2026). “Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Educational Outcomes of High School Students,” Journal of Applied Business and Economics.

Roy, S & A. Mitra (2024). “An Integrated Econometric and Artificial Intelligence Methodological Framework for Measurements of Housing Affordability,” 2024 IEEE International Conference Proceedings on Computational Intelligence for Financial Engineering & Economics, New Jersey, October 22 – 23, 2024.

George, A, A. Saha; S. Roy; A. Mitra (2024). “Integrated Econometric and Machine Learning Methodology in Measuring Housing Affordability,” 2024 IEEE International Conference Proceedings on Big Data, Washington, DC, USA, December 15-18, 2024.

Mitra, A & J. Schwartz (2023). “Economic Impacts of the Robotics Technology on Remote Greenhouse Farming in Northwest Indiana,” 59th MBAA International Conference Proceedings, Academy of Business Economics.

Mitra, A, T. Kroon & J. Schwartz (2022). “Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Educational Outcomes of High School Students,” 58th MBAA International Conference Proceedings, Academy of Business Economics.

Mitra, A & T. Kroon (2021). “Income Inequality and Educational Outcomes,” 57th MBAA International Conference Proceedings, Academy of Business Economics.