BFI is the nexus of the Chicago Economics community, acting as the hub for researchers and scholars to potentially play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community. We are also committed to helping the Department of Economics, the Harris School, the Booth School of Business, and the Law School train the next generation of economic researchers, scholars, policy analysts, and policy-makers.

BFI gives UChicago students invaluable opportunities to participate in frontier research that will have a global impact. Through our full schedule of seminars, workshops, forums, conferences, brown bags, job and internship opportunities, summer camps, and other events, our students have the chance to engage with one another and with researchers, scholars, policy analysts, and policy-makers to exchange ideas on the most critical and pressing issues of our time.

Programs and Networking

BFI’s robust schedule of conferences and lectures offer excellent opportunities to network with peers, colleagues, and leading scholars.

• Student Lunch Series. BFI’s Student Lunch Series invites prominent speakers to engage with undergraduate and graduate students in discussions about economics. The talks highlight the practical use of economics for answering real-world questions that are relevant to businesses and policymakers.
• View all events. BFI hosts numerous conferences, workshops, and talks that are open to students.

Employment Opportunities at BFI

BFI offers students the opportunity to work with faculty through a wide range of job, internship, or assistantship positions, including:

• Research Professional opportunities
• Research Assistant opportunities
  • Positions for undergraduate Research Assistant roles are posted to Handshake on a rolling basis for academic year and summer roles, applications will only be accepted via open Handshake roles.
  • Graduate Research Assistant roles are posted to Grad Gargoyle on a rolling basis when requested by faculty.
• Funding Available for External Internships
  • BFI has dedicated funding for unpaid or underpaid summer internships in the public or nonprofit sector relevant to economic studies. Students are welcome to apply for funding, decisions will be made on a rolling basis. For students who propose their own internship opportunity to BFI, a committee will review the proposal along with the criteria to decide which proposals are funded.  Apply Here

• Internship opportunities
  • Kapani Metcalf Summer Internship Program for Undergraduate Economics Students. BFI invites students to apply for posted summer internship opportunities and/or propose an internship program for funding to BFI staff.
  • Brickell Metcalf Internship Program. The Brickell Metcalf internship is for undergraduate students interested in conducting research with the intent of increasing liberty, and aims to produce research to develop a better understanding of the effects of law, regulation, and government policy on human behavior.

Additional Job Resources and Opportunities

Find job and or internship opportunity related to economics on or off-campus.

• Handshake. The University’s official job and career events board can be used to schedule advising appointments, RSVP for career development events, and apply directly to jobs and internships related to economics.
• GRAD Gargoyle. On-campus employment positions related to economics for graduate students and post-docs are posted in GRAD Gargoyle.

Contact

For questions please email bfisummer@uchicago.edu.