STAARS Fellowship Program at Cornell University
About the Fellowship
The STAARS Fellowship Program pairs early-career researchers with faculty mentors to conduct policy-oriented research focused on:
Determinants of productivity and income growth
Asset accumulation
Rural employment
Risk management in agriculture and rural spaces
The program aims to:
Encourage the rigorous analysis of high-quality public data, including LSMS-ISA data and other micro-level panel datasets.
Strengthen policy research culture among early-career researchers, helping them sustain research capacity at their institutions.
Provide mentorship opportunities with faculty at Cornell University and other affiliated institutions.
Conduct professional development activities, including trainings, seminars, and feedback sessions.
Build an active, policy-engaged research network connected to leading global authorities in development research.
About Cornell University
Founded in 1865, Cornell University is a Land-Grant institution with a long history of advancing education and research in agriculture, engineering, and social sciences. Cornell is a global leader in development research, particularly in areas related to agriculture, rural economies, and policy analysis.
Key Details of the Fellowship
Application Deadline: January 17, 2025
Country to Study: United States
Institution: Cornell University
Level of Study: Fellowship
Sponsor: Cornell University
Eligible Gender: Men and Women
Fellowship Benefits
Funding to cover travel and participation in a three-week visit to Cornell University and the mentor’s home institution.
Additional research coordination and professional development training conducted virtually.
A modest honorarium for each Fellow.
No salary support provided; funding does not cover the scholar’s time dedicated to the research.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the STAARS Fellowship Program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
Be an early-career researcher, either:
A Ph.D. student in their final year before degree completion, OR
A Ph.D. holder who completed their degree no earlier than 2019.
Have familiarity with and demonstrated access to datasets related to their research proposal (STAARS does not fund new data collection).
Have a strong working knowledge of Stata and/or R, with a focus on econometric analysis of high-quality datasets.
Knowledge of Stata/R will be assessed at the finalist stage.
Priority is given to:
Researchers with at least one degree from an institution in a low- or lower-middle-income country.
Researchers intending to work professionally in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Research proposals that align with STAARS’ core research themes.
Qualified female researchers.
Application Deadline
January 17, 2025
