Saed Alizamir

New research from UVA Darden professor Saed Alizamir suggests that small changes to the way smart thermostats are designed and used could lower household energy bills while easing strain on an increasingly stressed power grid.

New fintech apps promise a direct line from socially conscious buyers to small-scale growers and let shoppers tip the smallholders who harvest everything from coffee to cocoa. But research by Darden Professor Saed Alizamir shows that without guardrails, this well-intentioned strategy can backfire, leaving workers exposed to severe income risk.