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BoostNB is a student research stream in the Pathways to Professions (P2P) experiential learning program at NB-IRDT. Launched in 2018 by Dr. Herb Emery, Vaughan Chair of Regional Economics, BoostNB serves as a dashboard of economic indicators that aims to provide straightforward, fact-based information about New Brunswick and its economy.

This summer, BoostNB was comprised of four undergraduate students from Saint Thomas University and the University of New Brunswick. Under the leadership of Dr. Emery, they examined open-source data to determine whether the NB economy is progressing toward specific goals and targets.

Curious what they found? You can see the status of all 21 economic goals at boostnb.com, or you can review their infographic for a highlight of findings.

The BoostNB Student Team

Thomas Campbell – BoostNB Student Mentor

Thomas is graduating from the University of New Brunswick in 2022 with a bachelor of science in Software Engineering and a minor in Electrical Engineering. Thomas is a P2P alumnus, having also worked on the BoostNB team in 2020, and his wealth of experience made him a valuable mentor for this year’s students, as well as a key member of this year’s BoostNB team.

Tashi Dorji – BoostNB Communications Coordinator

Tashi is a third-year Economics student minoring in Business at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton. She has a passion for economics and finance and is interested in looking into economic trends. P2P has allowed her to expand her skills in data visualization and gain a thorough understanding of what exactly research entails, how to conduct data analysis, and how to effectively present research findings. All these skills helped her gain a more in-depth understanding about the socio-economic aspects of the province of New Brunswick.

Caroline Pietroski – BoostNB Data Analyst

Caroline is currently in her third year at St. Thomas University in New Brunswick, pursuing an Honours in Economics with a major in Environment and Society. She is interested in and passionate about the planet and environment, as well as economics, and hopes to find solutions that can both help the economy and protect the environment. Caroline hopes to pursue a master’s in Economics in the future, and she credits P2P for allowing her to explore many different aspects of the economy through analyzing data while presenting findings, writing reports, and communicating through data visualization.

Sandra Rafeh – BoostNB Data Analyst

Sandra is currently a third-year Economics Honours student at the University of New Brunswick, Saint John. Her interest in Economics further developed after joining the P2P program and working on the BoostNB project as a data analyst, which provided her with an eye-opening experience regarding the status of the New Brunswick economy. Sandra hopes to pursue a graduate degree in Economics, and she credits P2P with helping her develop skills that will assist her in future research endeavours.