{"id":358,"date":"2026-01-14T19:05:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T19:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/?page_id=358"},"modified":"2026-04-29T17:45:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T17:45:14","slug":"baker-res-lab","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Baker RES-Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1264\" height=\"993\" src=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/01\/RES-LabChart.png\" alt=\"A flowchart shows &quot;RES-Lab &amp; SOFAC Integrated Economic and Environmental Systems&quot; at the center, linked to five related topics including phosphorus &amp;nutrient management, food-energy water nexus, forest markets &amp; carbon management, policy analysis &amp; engagement, and sustainable land use systems. \" class=\"wp-image-378\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"LabOverview\">Lab Overview<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Socioeconomic and environmental change are amplifying sustainability concerns globally. Land use change, water scarcity, and growing demands for natural resources are pressuring current infrastructure and market systems to unsustainable limits. Further, critical feedback loops exist between the climate system and managed resources. Addressing these resource management challenges will require solutions that span scientific disciplines \u2014 including engineering, economics, environmental science, and public policy. The wicked nature of sustainability challenges requires careful consideration of the interdependencies between human and natural systems to identify and evaluate potential solutions \u2014 be they infrastructure investments, policy interventions, or alternative management strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Baker Resource Economics and Sustainability Lab (RES-Lab) specializes in systems thinking and integrated economic modeling to address critical societal challenges. The RES-Lab, led by Dr. Justin Baker, offers training and collaboration opportunities to students and postdocs with an interest in integrated natural and human systems, with some research areas summarized in the following figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div id=\"BlogHighlights\" class=\"ncst-labeled-section wp-block-ncst-featured-content ncst-featured-content is-card-style layout-three-column\">\n  <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__background\">\n    <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__container\">\n               <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__header\">\n                      <h2 class=\"ncst-labeled-section__heading\">RECENT BLOG POSTS<\/h2>\n                                <a\n              href=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/res-lab-blogs\/\"\n              class=\"ncst-labeled-section__link\"\n                                          data-ua-cat=\"Featured Content Block\" data-ua-action=\"Label Link Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/res-lab-blogs\/\"\n            >All Posts<\/a>\n                  <\/div>\n            <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__content\">\n        \n<div id=\"BlogHighlights\" class=\"wp-block-ncst-featured-content\"><a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/2026\/04\/29\/systems-research-tools-for-systemic-investing-bioeconomic-models\/\"\n  >\n  \n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Systems Research Tools for Systemic Investing: Bioeconomic Models<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Read more<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/2026\/03\/28\/could-critical-mineral-designation-for-phosphate-rock-ease-market-tension-and-support-sustainable-phosphorus-solutions\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-552\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/03\/rocks.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/03\/rocks.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/03\/rocks-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/03\/rocks-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Could Critical Mineral Designation for Phosphate Rock Ease Market Tension and Support Sustainable Phosphorus Solutions?\u00a0<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Thoughts on the new designation of Phosphate Rock as a critical mineral <br>(March 28, 2026)<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Read more<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/2026\/03\/11\/how-much-wood-is-out-there-it-depends-on-the-method\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2150\" height=\"1252\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-516\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/03\/BlogpostPicture-e1773243805399.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/03\/BlogpostPicture-e1773243805399.jpg 2150w, https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/03\/BlogpostPicture-e1773243805399-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/03\/BlogpostPicture-e1773243805399-2048x1193.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/03\/BlogpostPicture-e1773243805399-768x447.jpg 768w, https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/03\/BlogpostPicture-e1773243805399-1536x894.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">How Much Wood Is Out There? It Depends on the Method<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Comparing default and FIA volume equations in FVS<br>(March 11, 2026)<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Read more<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/2026\/02\/11\/determining-optimal-locations-for-targeted-tree-planting-on-national-and-city-level-scales\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"662\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-457\"\n            alt=\"\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/02\/tree_sappling.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/02\/tree_sappling.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/02\/tree_sappling-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/02\/tree_sappling-768x508.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Determining optimal locations for targeted tree-planting on national and city-level scales.<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Presenting our new optimization model for targeted tree-planting <br>(February 11, 2026)<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Read more<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-fancy-paragraph-seventy is-text wp-block-ncst-fancy-paragraph\">\n      \n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-fp-accompaniment\">\n    \n<a \n      class=\"ncst-fact has-custombg-one-text-color wp-block-ncst-fp-icon\"\n      href=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/publications\/\"\n                >\n      <div class=\"ncst-fact has-custombg-one-text-color\">\n              <span class=\"ncst-icon\">\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M21.3121 4.8L16.5121 0H2.63989V24H21.3599L21.3121 4.8ZM16.896 2.01562L19.3438 4.46344H16.896V2.01562ZM3.79208 22.8478V1.15219H15.7452V5.61609H20.1613L20.2082 22.8478H3.79208Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><path d=\"M15.216 3.64783H5.90381V4.56001H15.216V3.64783Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><path d=\"M17.9516 8.97607H5.90381V9.88826H17.9516V8.97607Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><path d=\"M17.9516 6.28784H5.90381V7.20003H17.9516V6.28784Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><path d=\"M17.9516 11.6161H5.90381V12.5283H17.9516V11.6161Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><path d=\"M17.9516 14.3039H5.90381V15.2161H17.9516V14.3039Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><path d=\"M17.9516 16.9439H5.90381V17.8561H17.9516V16.9439Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><path d=\"M11.9999 19.6322H5.90381V20.5444H11.9999V19.6322Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg>\n\n        <\/span>\n                              <h2 class=\"fact__heading\">New Publications<\/h2>\n                            <p class=\"fact__support\">\n                    <span class=\"text\">(All publications)<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n                  <\/p>\n                <\/div>\n      <\/a>\n  \n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"text-only wp-block-ncst-fp-accompaniment\">\n    \n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.forpol.2026.103755\" id=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.forpol.2026.103755\">Manner, R., Guo, J., Clutter, M., Sodiya, O., Abt, R., Sheffield, R., Baker, J. (2026). <strong>Globally informed and locally refined: Market, management, and carbon projections for the Southeastern United States forest sector<\/strong>. <em>Forest Policy and Economics<\/em>. <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2666719326000117\">Dhungel, G., Baker, J., Henderson, J. (2026). <strong>Physical Presence, Practical Absence: Accessibility of Timber Inventory in the Eastern US<\/strong>. <em>Trees, Forests and People<\/em>.<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.1088\/1748-9326\/ae0ce0\/meta\">Fuller, M., Baker, J., Daigneault, A., Guo, J., Lauri, P., Favero, A., Forsell, N., Johnson, C., Sohngen, B. (2025). <strong>Global carbon storage in harvested wood products: a forest sector model inter-comparison.<\/strong> <em>Environmental Research Letters<\/em>.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n  \n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Projects\">Projects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/steps-center.org\/our-team\/\"><em>Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability&nbsp;(STEPS)<\/em><\/a>. National Science Foundation. 2021-2026. (Co-PI, Research Theme Co-lead)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodandlandusecoalition.org\/fable\/\">Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land Use, and Energy <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodandlandusecoalition.org\/fable\/\"> (FABLE)<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodandlandusecoalition.org\/fable\/\"> Consortium<\/a>.<\/em> UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. 2018-present. (US Team Co-Lead)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recent policy brief on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodandlandusecoalition.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Pathways-for-food-and-land-use-systems-to-contribute-to-global-biodiversity-targets-March-2022.pdf\">global biodiversity targets<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2020 FABLE report and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodandlandusecoalition.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/United-States-of-America_high_final-1.pdf\">U.S. chapter<\/a> on sustainable land use pathways<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.cnr.ncsu.edu\/sofac\/\"><em>Southern Forest Resource Assessment Consortium (SOFAC)<\/em><\/a> (Director)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SOFAC develops market models and forward-looking resource assessments of the southern U.S. forest sector<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recent work on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1389934122000478\">Hurricane Michael<\/a> and forest markets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Accelerated Genetic Improvement of Fir through Sequencing, Economics, Extension and Diagnostics (<a href=\"https:\/\/portal.nifa.usda.gov\/web\/crisprojectpages\/1032970-a-gift-seed-accelerated-genetic-improvement-of-fir-through-sequencing-economics-extension-and-diagnostics.html\">A GIFT SEED<\/a>)<\/em>. 2024-2028.  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/research\/mcintire-stennis-program\/loblolly-pine-growth-modeling\/\">Modeling growth response of loblolly pine and economic returns from nutrient additions<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/em>USDA, McIntire-Stennis Program. 2021-2024. (Co-PI<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/internalresources\/2021\/05\/21\/research-awards-and-grants-spring-2021\/\"><em>U.S.-China Food-Energy-Water Feedback Mechanism: A Comparative Study of China&#8217;s Jing-Jin-Ji Region and California&#8217;s Central Valley<\/em><\/a>. National Science Foundation. 2021-2025. (PI)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>A multi-scale decision support tool to quantify forest benefits on water quantity and quality in the Southern United States.&nbsp;<\/em>2020-2023. (Co-PI). Publication examples <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0048969723021691\">here <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1389934125001820\">here<\/a>.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Research\">Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Forest bioenergy policy and the carbon neutrality <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/00963402.2022.2062941\">debate<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water resource management and development (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldscientific.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1142\/S2382624X2150003X\">Morgan et al., 2021<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>RTI Grand Challenge: Building Resilience in Food, Energy, and Water Systems.&nbsp;<\/em>RTI International. 2020-2021.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hydro-economic modeling to identify <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S037837742200155X\">spatial hotspots for irrigation expansion<\/a> in Guatemala<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0140988321005223\">Energy poverty<\/a> and low-carbon development tradeoffs in Guatemala<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lab Overview Socioeconomic and environmental change are amplifying sustainability concerns globally. Land use change, water scarcity, and growing demands for natural resources are pressuring current infrastructure and market systems to unsustainable limits. Further, critical feedback loops exist between the climate system and managed resources. Addressing these resource management challenges will require solutions that span scientific&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":178,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"pageIntro\":\"Baker Resource Economics and Sustainability Lab\",\"backgroundColor\":\"red_400\",\"cta\":\"\",\"ctaURL\":\"\",\"imageID\":378,\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2026\/01\/RES-LabChart.png\",\"useCTA\":false,\"imageAlt\":\"RES-Lab and SOFAC diagram of integrated themes including Forests & Carbon, Phosphorus, FEW Nexus, Modling, Policy, and Sustainable Agriculture. - Baker RES-Lab - College of Natural Resources at NC State\",\"mirrorLayout\":true}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"on","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-358","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/178"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=358"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/358\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":585,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/358\/revisions\/585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}