The Becker Friedman Institute’s Predoctoral in Economics Program (PREP) is proud to announce three awardees of the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP) in recognition of their academic excellence and potential for significant contributions to economics and related fields.
Each year, the NSF GRFP supports a select group of outstanding researchers in STEM fields. Of the 25 nationwide awardees for the Social Sciences in Economics category, three were members of PREP, reflecting the program’s continued success in preparing the next generation of researchers. PREP is also pleased to note that two additional fellows—Ethan Sawyer and Yash Singh—received Honorable Mentions, a distinction granted to promising applicants whose work stood out in a highly competitive review process.
“We’re incredibly proud of our fellows. These awards reflect their talent, hard work, and the power of intentional mentorship and preparation,” said Michelle Skinner, Director of Research Support Programs at BFI.
This year’s NSF GRFP awardees from PREP include:
- Scott Blatte, who worked with BFI Senior Scholar Josh Gottlieb, will pursue a PhD in Economics at Northwestern University.
- Claire McMahon, who worked in the Market Shaping Accelerator at the Development Innovation Lab, will pursue a PhD in Economics at Harvard University.
- Sariya Stowers, a pre-doctoral fellow at EPIC under Michael Greenstone, will pursue a PhD in Economics at the University of California at San Diego. Read more about Sariya’s work at EPIC.
PREP provides full-time post-baccalaureate research opportunities, intensive skills training, and personalized mentorship for early-career scholars from diverse backgrounds. In preparation for this year’s NSF application cycle, PREP hosted a series of writing workshops, alumni panels, and designated work sessions designed to help research professionals (RPs) develop strong applications and receive feedback from experienced mentors.
Reflecting on the experience, NSF awardee Scott Blatte noted, “My two years at PREP taught me invaluable lessons about how to develop and refine research questions—skills that are central to the NSF application and review process. I strongly encourage future applicants to use their application as an opportunity to develop a research question or topic with policy implications aligned with the NSF’s funding goals.”
Learn more about the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.