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Predocs and research pathways

A predoctoral position is the most direct way to gain research experience and a strong letter, but it is far from the only one.

2 min read · By Marc Sleiman

A predoctoral position, or predoc, is usually a one- or two-year, full-time research job working with faculty or research economists. It has become one of the main routes into strong economics PhD programs. A predoc gives you real research experience, a detailed letter from a known researcher, often the chance to take additional courses, and an honest test of whether you enjoy research before you commit five or six years to it.

The goal is not prestige for its own sake. The goal is meaningful research experience and strong letters. Here is how the landscape is organized.

Tier 1: elite branded predoctoral programs

Nationally recognized programs that serve as major pipelines into top PhD programs.

• Stanford SIEPR Predoctoral Research Fellows
• Stanford Graduate School of Business Research Fellows
• Yale Tobin Center Predoctoral Fellows
• University of Chicago Becker Friedman Institute predoctoral opportunities
• Princeton International Economics Section predoctoral positions
• Harvard Business School Predoctoral Research Associates
• Wharton predoctoral training opportunities
• Columbia Business School Predoctoral Staff Associates

Tier 2: other formal predoctoral programs

Generally less famous, but still structured research experience with good mentoring.

• Brown University economics predoctoral research associates
• Dartmouth economics predoctoral fellows
• Duke Development Economics Laboratory (DevLab) predoctoral fellows
• University of Virginia economics predoctoral positions
• University of Notre Dame economics predoctoral positions
• Faculty-specific positions listed on PREDOC’s opportunity database

Tier 3: elite research organizations

Not always called predocs, but highly respected pathways into PhD programs.

The Federal Reserve System

• Federal Reserve Board research assistant program
• Federal Reserve Bank of New York
• Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
• Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
• Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
• Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Policy and economic research organizations

Brookings Institution, RAND Corporation, Mathematica, Urban Institute, RTI International and Opportunity Insights.

Development economics organizations

J-PAL and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA).

Tier 4: alternative research pathways

Do not assume a branded predoc is the only route. Valuable alternatives include faculty research assistantships, department-funded research assistant positions, research roles at policy institutes, government research offices, state policy organizations, summer undergraduate research programs and independent research projects under faculty supervision. What matters is the quality of the research experience and the letter, not the name of the program.

Where to find positions

PREDOC.org runs the main job board for predoctoral positions and offers free preparation courses. The NBER research assistant listings collect positions with NBER-affiliated researchers, and J-PAL’s predoc directory covers programs in North America, Europe and elsewhere. Many programs hire on a cycle that starts in the fall for positions beginning the following summer, so start looking about a year ahead.

Getting hired

Predoc hiring looks for the same things as PhD admissions on a smaller scale: strong quantitative coursework, programming skills and evidence that you can work carefully with data. Many programs include a data or coding test. Strong performance in advanced econometrics, and especially in a graduate course, helps you stand out.