Stanford
Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR)

Predoctoral Research Fellows Program

The SIEPR/Economics Predoctoral Research Fellows Program offers a full-time one- to two-year immersive research experience for post-baccalaureate individuals interested in pursuing advanced degrees and careers in economics, public policy, and related fields. Predoctoral research fellows (“predocs”) work with one or two faculty mentors on research projects and have the opportunity to enroll in Stanford undergraduate and graduate level courses. Predocs additionally participate in a variety of professional development and social activities together.  

Predoc in audience at Policy Forum on Social Security
Bethany Carter, a predoctoral research fellow at SIEPR, participates during a Q&A at the Spring Policy Forum.
student_Dutch town hall_SIEPR_2023
A predoctoral research fellow comes ready with a question at the town hall meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
SIEPR_Predocs_summit
A group of predoctoral research fellows attends the Summit — always eager to participate in events.

SIEPR/Economics Predoctoral Research Fellows Program

Fellows are appointed as non-matriculated graduate students and have the opportunity to fully engage in the intellectual life at . They dedicate a significant portion of their time to an empirical research project and can take courses at for credit (up to one 3-unit course per quarter). The fellowship offers tuition, health insurance, and a living stipend.

Meet our current Predoctoral Research Fellows

Hear from some students

Diversity and Inclusivity

The Predoctoral Research Fellows program is committed to creating inclusive research spaces for all. We value diverse backgrounds and perspectives and are a proud participant of . The goal of our program is to help foster the growth of the next generation of researchers in economics and public policy.

We seek applicants who have an interest in pursuing research related to economic policy and in learning cutting-edge research methods. Prior background is not strictly necessary; candidates interested in gaining exposure to the project areas of research are very welcome to apply. 

Qualifications

  • Completion of a 4-year undergraduate degree by June 30, 2025. The degree should be a bachelor's, or foreign equivalent, in economics, statistics, applied mathematics, or a related field. 
  • Strong quantitative background and interest in learning cutting-edge research methods.
  • Creative and independent problem-solving skills.
  • An interest in pursuing research related to economics and/or the project field of interest. However, prior background in these areas is not strictly necessary; candidates interested in gaining exposure to the project areas of research are very welcome to apply. 
  • The programming experience required varies and will be outlined in the posting for each research project.

Apply to be a Fellow

Faculty Mentors

The program enables our faculty to expand their research capacity on policy-relevant topics. By expanding the talent pool from which future contributions to the economic policy will be made, we directly contribute to SIEPR’s mission of engaging future scholars in high-quality economic policy research.

See the current faculty mentors

Stanford Faculty interested in mentoring students through the program should consult our 

Questions?

Please review our frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions, email siepr-fellowships@stanford.edu.