First, thank you for your interest in participating in my research on the socioeconomic impacts of unconventional oil and gas development in Montana and North Dakota. I am a PhD Candidate in the Earth Sciences Department at Montana State University. Broadly, my research seeks to improve communities’ experiences with oil and gas development in the Bakken Shale Formation.

Why did you ask me? You are being asked to participate in this research because of your experience with oil and gas impacts in eastern Montana and/or western North Dakota. You have been identified because you are either a local or state government representative, a member of a community working group, a landowner, and/or an expert in public finance, engineering and infrastructure, or the oil and gas industry.

Interviews are anonymous. I often record interviews but these recordings are for internal use only. I will ask your permission to record you before I start recording. If you are not comfortable being recorded it is not a problem! Interviews are transcribed verbatim. You can request a copy of your interview transcript by emailing me at kristinsmith6@montana.edu or leaving a message for me at (406) 233-9766.

Taking part in this research is completely voluntary. You may choose not to answer questions or end your research participation at any time.

2019 Township Survey

In December 2019 I am conducting a survey to assess how township governments have been impacted by oil and gas development in Williams County, McKenzie County, and Mountrail County, North Dakota. The survey seeks to understand how township road infrastructure has been impacted by oil and gas development, as well as how townships’ annual budgets have changed since 2005 (pre-boom).

Township chairpersons in the three targeted counties received the survey by mail or email. If you a chairperson of a township you can take the online survey here.

Institutional Review Board Approval

The Institutional Review Board - more commonly referred to as the IRB - protects the rights and welfare of human participants that take part in research. My research was approved by Montana State University’s Institutional Review Board in May 2017, approval #KS050417-EX. Prior to that my research was conducted on behalf of Dr. Julia Haggerty and her “Escaping the Research Curse” project, IRB #JH042414-EX.

If you have questions or concerns about this research project, please contact Montana State University’s Chair of the Institutional Review Board, Mark Quinn, mquinn@montana.edu, (406) 994-4707. More information about Montana State University’s IRB can be found online at http://www.montana.edu/orc/irb.

Funding sources for this research

• 2018 – 2020 $89,615. USDA NIFA Pre-doctoral Fellowship, Project #2017-07020.

• 2018 – 2019 $2,700. Marathon Oil Scholarship & Vecta Oil Graduate Award, Earth Sciences Department, Montana State University.

• 2018 – 2019 $1,500. Graduate Student Research Award, Center for Western Lands & Peoples, Montana State University.

• 2017 – 2018 $2,700. Marathon Oil Scholarship & Vecta Oil Graduate Award, Earth Sciences Department, Montana State University.

• 2016 – 2017 $1,500. Graduate Student Research Award, Center for Western Lands & Peoples, Montana State University.

In addition to the above sources, I have funds from Montana State University’s Graduate College, the College of Letters and Sciences, and the Department of Earth Sciences to support my travel to and attendance at national conferences.

In 2016 and 2017 I was a research assistant for Dr. Julia Haggerty’s "Escaping the Resource Curse" project and conducted multiple research trips to the Bakken in this role. The project was funded by USDA NIFA (Project #2014-05498) and also benefited from support from the Institute on Ecosystems and Montana State University. 

About Me

I am a PhD Candidate in the Earth Sciences Department at Montana State University. I work in Dr. Julia Haggerty’s Resources & Communities Research Group on issues related to rural economies and natural resource development. I have worked in eastern Montana and western North Dakota (the Bakken Shale Formation) since January 2016. My research investigates the short- and long-term impacts of unconventional oil and gas development on communities. Most recently, I have focused on how oil and gas development shapes public finances and infrastructure decisions. For my research I conduct interviews, focus groups, and surveys. I also attend local community and government meetings and analyze documents, including meeting minutes, newspaper stories, and policy testimonies. Learn more about me on my bio page.