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 student workshop designed to support the development of original research projects by graduate students and early career researchers. Meeting biweekly(?**), the workshop provides a space for participants to present their own work—whether early-stage ideas or ongoing projects—for constructive feedback and collaborative refinement.
The format centers on student-led research and peer-to-peer engagement. Participants take on new projects or build on existing work, presenting regularly for input from faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and fellow students. The aim of the working group is to foster long-term, meaningful academic relationships and a collaborative intellectual community.
The 2025-2026 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.
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:
- Statement of Interest
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Unofficial Transcripts
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.
Summer 2026: Milan (June 2026)
Summer 2026: Vancouver (August 2026)
Previous training sites have included:
- Beijing, China (June, 2023)
- Seoul, South Korea (July, 2023)
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan (July, 2024)
- Chicago, Illinois (July, 2024)
- Brasília, Brazil (June, 2025)
- Dilijan, Armenia (July, 2025)
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:
- Statement of Interest
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Two letters of reference
- Required for PhD Students only
Application Period:
Annually, late April to late May. 2026 Deadline TBD.
Announcement:
Annually, decisions are announced in May through June. Decisions deadline for 2026 TBD.