BFI Predoctoral
Research in Economics Program (PREP)

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About the Program

The Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP) is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. The program offers unique research and professional training opportunities at the University of Chicago.

Life at BFI / UCHICAGO

In addition to working closely with faculty as research assistants, predoctoral research professionals typically attend classes and seminars at BFI and affiliate institutions. Additional opportunities include a rigorous customized orientation workshop, annual career development retreat, and individual mentorship.

PREDOCTORAL RESEARCH PROFESSIONALS

Program participants in this or similar positions have gone on to Economics Ph.D. programs at Harvard, MIT, University of Chicago, Stanford, University of California, Berkeley, Princeton, LSE, and similar schools upon program completion.

Related News

Stay up to date on Predoctoral Research in Economics program (PREP) news and announcements.
View All Predoc News
BFI News·Oct 21, 2025

BFI Summer Research Program: A Partnership Investing in Tomorrow’s Scholars

October 21, 2025
BFI News·Oct 17, 2025

Welcome 2025–26 Cohort of Pre-Doctoral Research Professionals

October 17, 2025

Pre-Doctoral Research Opportunities

Join our team! Applications for pre-doctoral research opportunities are reviewed in fall, winter, and spring cycles.

Contact

For general inquiries, please contact bfipredoc@uchicago.edu.

Research Support Team

Amy Elliot-Meisel

Manager of Research Support Programs, Becker Friedman Institute for Economics

Daphne Schneewind

Research Support Coordinator, Becker Friedman Institute for Economics

Michelle Skinner

Director of Research Support Programs, Becker Friedman Institute for Economics