The Penn Development Research Initiative (PDRI) / 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.
In service of this mission, we are inviting researchers from Sub-Saharan Africa interested in deepening their skills in quantitative social science, developing collaborative research projects, and building their academic networks, to apply for a semester-long fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, to be completed during the 2023 Fall semester (September – December 2023). This fellowship is being implemented with technical assistance from the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA).
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 we currently don’t have earmarked grant funds for scholars, there are numerous research grant opportunities which our staff will assist connecting scholars with.
Established in 1740, University of Pennsylvania is a non-profit private higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Philadelphia (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants), Pennsylvania. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, University of Pennsylvania (Upenn) is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 25,000-29,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. University of Pennsylvania (Upenn) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation degrees), bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 279 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 10-20% making this US higher education organization a most selective institution. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.