CID's Visiting Researcher Program welcomes PhD and Postdoc researchers to pursue their research for a year in residence at Harvard Kennedy School  and join the tight-knit research community at CID. Fellows will have the opportunity to attend community events, seminars, and meetings, exchange best practices and ideas, discuss research, and network with the broader CID and Harvard communities.

Image of Professor Eliana La Ferrara

Through this new program, we are thrilled to bring early-stage researchers to the CID community. We hope to build new relationships that spark innovative ideas and translate into research that will have a significant impact on economic development.

Eliana La Ferrara, Professor of Public Policy
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES

CID Economic Development PhD Research Fellowships

This fellowship is for current PhD students who have finished their coursework. Fellows will have the opportunity to pursue their own economic development research, receiving guidance from a CID faculty affiliate. PhD Fellows will receive a stipend of up to $20,000 to be in residence at Harvard Kennedy School starting September 2026 for up to nine months. Successful applicants must come from a PhD institution in a UniCredit Foundation country (Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia), and their research should focus on development economics and/or education anywhere in the world. Given the high cost of living in Cambridge, MA, scholars are encouraged to seek additional funding from their home institutions. This opportunity is made possible by support from the UniCredit Foundation. 

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until February 8, 2026 Recommendation letters must be received within two weeks of the application submission.

Join CID as part of our Visiting Researcher Program
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  • Current PhD student who has completed their coursework in Economics or Public Policy, although additional fields such as Education, Politics, Computer Science or other pertinent fields may be considered.
  • From an institution located in a UniCredit Foundation country (Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia)
  • Working on economic development and/or education research anywhere in the world
  • Willing to relocate to Cambridge, MA, for the entirety of the fellowship
  • Strong English oral and written communication skills
  • Demonstrated academic excellence

Interested candidates can submit an application through this link. 

Applications must include:

  • Home country institution
  • A personal statement (max of 2 pages)
  • A research statement (max of 3 pages)
  • A current CV
  • Academic transcripts from all degrees received and in progress (unofficial copies are acceptable)
  • Two letters of recommendation from academic (preferred) or professional references (will be requested through the application process)

Applications will not be reviewed unless all pieces of the application have been received.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until February 8, 2026. Recommendation letters must be received within two weeks of the application submission.

Participants will be expected to deliver:

  • A presentation on your research at CID
  • Submission of two research progress reports
  • A blog summarizing your research and experience towards the end of the fellowship

 

Hear from CID's Visiting Researchers

How did being part of the CID community propel their research? See how the research fellows from CID's Visiting Research Program experienced life in Boston and how their time with CID influenced their next steps.