Kabir Banerjee Predoctoral Fellowship 2025-26
Scholarship Amount
About This Scholarship
The Kabir Banerjee Predoctoral Fellowship 2025-26 is a prestigious opportunity offered by the Weiss Fund for Research in Development Economics. It is specifically designed for talented researchers from low and lower-income countries. The fellowship aims to attract and support individuals dedicated to producing innovative, rigorous evidence that addresses complex challenges faced by these nations.
Selected candidates will receive invaluable opportunities, including:
• Developing coding, research, and communication skills.
• Gaining a deep understanding of the inner workings of research projects, along with management and field experience.
• Exploring a wide variety of research areas to satisfy intellectual curiosity.
• Receiving dedicated mentorship and support throughout the Ph.D. application process.
• Building strong relationships with esteemed faculty members who can guide their learning and highlight their strengths to graduate schools.
• Collaborating on research publications and having the opportunity to co-author papers.
This fellowship plays a crucial role in identifying promising candidates, endorsing their applications to highly competitive predoctoral programs, and subsidizing associated hiring costs. Successful finalists will be recommended and supported in their applications to top predoctoral programs worldwide, significantly improving their chances of advancement in the selection process. Applicants who have not taken the GRE will be required to complete a similar test administered by the Weiss Fund team during the final selection stage, with fees covered for pre-finalists.
Important Dates:
• Application Deadline 1: 10 September 2025 (for Summer 2026)
• Application Deadline 2: 30 November 2025 (for Fall 2026)
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, an applicant must:
• Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an institution in a low• or lower-middle-income country by June 2024.
• Possess strong mathematical skills.
• Possess working proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Hold a GRE quantitative score above 160 points.
Note:
• Applicants with a high school degree from a low• or lower-middle-income country and a university degree from a country outside this list will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Preferred qualifications for applicants include:
• A degree in Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Engineering, Computer Science, Actuarial Science, Economics, or a related social science with a strong math emphasis.
• Experience in a research environment demonstrating strong analytical and quantitative skills, including conducting Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs).
• Proficiency in statistical analysis software such as R, Python, or Stata.
• A strong interest in pursuing a career in development economics and a commitment to self-directed learning.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail and the ability to prioritise tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• A preferred GRE quantitative score above 168 (90%) and a GRE verbal score of 156 (70%). Candidates who have not taken the GRE will be required to do so during the final selection stage, with fees covered by the Weiss Fund for pre-finalists.
Required Documents
Required Documents:
• Resume/CV (required)
• Transcripts (required)
• 2-3 Recommendation Letters
• GRE quantitative score (if available)
Note: Recommendation letters are optional at the time of submitting the initial application. They will be required if the application advances further in the process. Please have the letters submitted directly to weissfund@uchicago.edu.
How to Apply
Eligible applicants can apply by following these steps:
1. Click on the 'Apply Now' button and carefully read all details.
2. Log in to your account using valid credentials. (If you are not registered, fill in the required details and 'Register'.)
3. Scroll down and click on ‘Apply Here’.
4. Fill in all required details and upload the necessary documents.
5. Click ‘Submit’ to complete your application.