Deadline: 13-Dec-22
Researchers from Sub-Saharan Africa, interested in deepening their skills in quantitative social science, developing collaborative research projects, and building their academic networks are being invited to apply for 2023 PDRI-DevLab Visiting Fellowship program.
The Penn Development Research Initiative (PDRI) / DevLab@Penn is committed to building capacity for rigorous research on pressing policy challenges facing low- and middle-income countries, by providing training and research opportunities for emerging researchers.
Benefits
- Each visiting fellow will be paired with a faculty mentor affiliated with PDRI-DevLab, a network of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania whose research seeks to identify solutions to the challenges facing LMICs. PDRI-DevLab faculty affiliates study a wide variety of development topics, including governance, education, migration, health, labor markets, and other topics. Each fellow will be further paired with a PDRI-affiliated PhD student.
- Visiting fellows will have the opportunity to audit doctoral-level classes, carry out independent research, present their research, receive mentorship from faculty, and launch collaborative research partnerships with Penn faculty and graduate students.
- PDRI will cover the costs of room and board in Philadelphia, health insurance, a monthly stipend, visa fees, and round-trip economy airfare for selected fellows, with a total level of support of approximately $15,000. Please note that PDRI-DevLab does not provide financial support for spouses or other family members.
- After completing the fellowship, fellows are expected to return to their home university or research institute in Sub-Saharan Africa and assume a leading role in promoting the use of impact evaluations and evidence-based public policy, while continuing to collaborate on research projects initiated with Penn colleagues. Although they currently don’t have earmarked grant funds for scholars, there are numerous research grant opportunities which their staff will assist connecting scholars with.
Fellowship Activities
During the fellowship, visiting researchers will have the opportunity to:
- Audit doctoral-level courses on international development, impact evaluation, and research methods taught by PDRI-affiliated faculty and other instructors from across Penn’s schools.
- Present their own research during seminars and workshops, and give guest lectures in classes or other events at Penn.
- Carry out an independent research project under the mentorship of a PDRI faculty member.
- Launch collaborative research projects with PDRI-affiliated faculty, graduate students, and other researchers at Penn.
- Potentially visit and present their research at other universities in the Northeast region.
- Participate in policy dissemination by contributing to policy briefs, and attending meetings with policymakers and stakeholders.
- Participate in monthly “extracurricular” activities in the Philadelphia region (e.g., a visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, local historical sites, etc.)
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants to the PDRI-DevLab Visiting Fellowship must:
- Be a national of a Sub-Saharan African country (following the World Bank regional classification for Sub-Saharan Africa) and be fluent in English
- Have completed a PhD within the last 8 years, or be enrolled in a PhD program in political science, economics, statistics, sociology, education, epidemiology/public health, or another social science discipline;
- Have a current affiliation with a research institution, university or other research organization in Sub-Saharan Africa, preferably one that supports policy-relevant, quantitative social science research;
- Plan to return to a research institute in Sub-Saharan Africa after the fellowship.
- Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
For more information, visit https://pdri.upenn.edu/announcement/2023-pdri-devlab-visiting-fellowship-for-african-scholars-request-for-applications/
