Funding

Salary

Program dates

TBA

Fellowship•USA

Kabir Banerjee Predoctoral Fellowship

Weiss Fund for Research in Development Economics, University of Chicago

Application Deadline

Closed · July 24, 2026

Expected to reopen

Official Page

The Kabir Banerjee Predoctoral Fellowship, run by the Weiss Fund for Research in Development Economics at the University of Chicago, helps researchers who earned their degrees in low and lower-middle-income countries enter competitive predoctoral programs. The Fund endorses selected applicants, matches them with development economists, and pays host institutions a subsidy toward hiring costs. Fellows take up paid two-year predoctoral research positions and receive mentorship toward a future PhD. The goal is to widen the pool of researchers from lower-income countries in leading predoctoral programs.

Benefits & funding

  • Weiss Fund endorsement of applications to leading predoctoral programs
  • Matching with world-class development economists and mentorship toward PhD applications
  • Paid two-year predoctoral research position at a host university (the host provides compensation, benefits, and visa sponsorship)
  • A subsidy paid by the Fund to host institutions to partly cover hiring costs
  • For Track 2 applicants, the Fund covers GRE exam fees
  • Skill-building in coding, research, and communication, with the possibility of co-authored publications

Eligibility

  • Completed, or will complete by June 2027, a relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an institution in a low or lower-middle-income country, per the World Bank income classification. Applicants with secondary education in such a country but tertiary education elsewhere may be considered case by case.
  • Strong quantitative skills; preferred backgrounds in mathematics, physics, statistics, engineering, computer science, or economics
  • GRE quantitative score above 160 required (168+ quantitative and 156+ verbal preferred); Track 2 lets applicants apply while the GRE is still pending
  • Working proficiency in written and spoken English
  • Research experience (for example with randomized controlled trials and R, Python, or Stata) is preferred, not required

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  • Education required

    Bachelor · Master

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Application process

  1. 1
    Prepare a CV, transcripts, and a GRE quantitative score (or plan to sit the GRE under Track 2).
  2. 2
    Review all questions in advance — the online form must be completed in one session.
  3. 3
    Submit through the Weiss Fund application portal by July 24, 2026.
  4. 4
    Shortlisted candidates provide 2–3 recommendation letters and advance to further review.
  5. 5
    Track 1 uses rolling review with possible Fall 2026 placement; Track 2 decisions arrive by December 2026 / January 2027.

Program timeline

  1. Application deadline

    Jul 24, 2026

  2. Possible placement for Track 1 finalists (rolling review)

    Fall 2026

  3. Final decisions for Track 2 applicants

    December 2026 / January 2027

  4. Latest date by which a qualifying degree must be completed

    June 2027