Call for Applications

We actively seek applications for our rigorous training programs, which aim to equip scholars with the necessary tools to excel in their research:

The Inequality Working Group

The Inequality Working Group is a biweekly meeting dedicated to fostering discussion and collaboration among graduate students and early career researchers. Moving away from a traditional seminar format, the working group facilitates a reading group driven by student presentations that emphasizes discussion and active participation. Under this model, participants are encouraged to deliver guidance to and invite assistance from graduate students pursuing challenging research projects, thereby developing meaningful collaborative relationships. This format enables faculty and students alike to engage with early-stage, ongoing research. 

The 2024 program is presented by Director Steven Durlauf, Associate Director Geoff Wodtke, and Postdoctoral Scholar Kristina Butaeva. Due to the close and enduring nature of the working relationships, participation in the Inequality Working Group is by admit only. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More About the Inequality Working Group

Qualifications:

  • Applicant must be currently enrolled as a UChicago Student or hold a research position at the University of Chicago (e.g., Research Assistant, Postdoctoral Scholar, etc.).
    • Although the workshop is intended for graduate students, applications from qualified undergraduate students will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Familiarity with or high interest in research on inequality dynamics.
  • Background in the quantitative social sciences preferred (e.g., economics, sociology, public policy, etc.).
  • Willingness to present their research to the working group as requested.

Required Materials:

  1. Statement of Interest
  2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  3. Unofficial Transcripts
Apply

Summer School on Socioeconomic Opportunity and Inequality

The Summer School on Socioeconomic Opportunity and Inequality seeks to provide the next generation of scholars with the multidisciplinary underpinning necessary for effective research on inequality dynamics. It will feature leading scholars tackling inequality research from the lens of economics, sociology, and public policy, to foster cross-disciplinary approaches to inequality research and public policy evaluation regarding long-term inequality issues. It will also engage advanced Ph.D. students and early-career faculty through immersive lectures on state-of-the-art methods for inequality research, one-on-one and small-group meetings with senior researchers, and poster sessions where summer school students can receive input on their early-stage research from the research community. The summer schools are designed to yield long-term benefits in creating lasting intellectual links that can be pursued long after the conclusion of the meetings.

This is admit-only training for advanced Ph.D. students and early career faculty led by a roster of multidisciplinary leading scholars. Applications for the summer program are collected in the preceding spring quarter.

Previous and Upcoming Trainings

Previous training sites have included:

  • Beijing, China
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Seoul, South Korea
  • Tashkent, Uzbekistan

This application is intended for Summer School students, not paper or poster presenters. If you are interested in presenting your research please instead visit the Call for Papers page.

Qualifications:

  • The summer school is open to advanced Ph.D. students, postdoctoral scholars, and junior faculty from around the world.

Required Materials:

  1. Statement of Interest
  2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  3. Two letters of reference
    • Required for PhD Students only

Application Period:

Annually, late April to late May. Exact dates to be determined.

Announcement:

Annually, decisions are announced in early June. Exact dates to be determined.

Please check back in April 2025