Jacob conducts research, teaching and outreach activities that focus on helping smallholder households in sub-Saharan Africa sustainably intensify agricultural production. Jacob works on measuring the cost-effectiveness of input subsidies in SSA, the role of land rental markets in southern Africa and ways to alleviate constraints that smallholder African farmers’ face in the post-harvest season. His work on input subsidies has been recognized by the African Association of Agricultural Economists, the American Association of Agricultural Economists and the International Association of Agricultural Economists. Ricker-Gilbert received his PhD in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University in 2011.