Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Economic Outcomes

Deadline to apply: December 4, 2025, at 5 pm EST

Description   

NBER's Post-Doctoral Fellowship on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Economic Outcomes, supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, offers an opportunity for an early-career economist to engage in a year of intensive research at NBER's Cambridge headquarters. The fellowship is specifically designed to foster in-depth study of disparities in economic outcomes, with a particular focus on racial and ethnic disparities in wealth accumulation, labor market outcomes, and the impact of significant economic shocks, such as downturns and recessions.

Fellows are expected to be in residence at the NBER for the full academic year, and the fellowship-related research and activities are anticipated to be their primary responsibility during this time. 

For international applicants, the NBER is able to sponsor fellowship recipients for a J-1 visa under its established research scholars’ program.

Compensation

This includes a stipend of $100,000, reimbursement for health insurance costs, a dedicated travel and research allowance to support fieldwork and conference attendance, and an office at the NBER’s Cambridge headquarters.

Eligibility

  • Individuals who are in the final stages of completing their PhDs, with an expected completion date of no later than June 2026.
  • Junior faculty members who may be able to combine the fellowship with early career leave from their current institutions.

Application Deadline

5:00 pm EST on Thursday, December 4, 2025. Will be notified in January 2026, for the 2026–27 academic year.

Link to Apply

Application Requirements

  • Curriculum vitae.
  • Research proposal not to exceed three pages double-spaced, and no more than two additional pages of tables, references, and graphs, describing the proposed research for the fellowship year.
  • One recommendation letter (preferably from a dissertation supervisor or other researcher familiar with their work).

Selection Committee

Trevon Logan (Ohio State), Juan Carlos Suarez Serrato (Stanford), and Ebonya Washington (Columbia)

Funder

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Contact 

Abbie Murrell murrella@nber.org