Cornell University’s Collaboration for International Development Economics Research, known as CIDER, is accepting applications for a Pre-Doctoral Research Fellowship based at its Ithaca Main Campus in New York. The full-time, post-baccalaureate role is aimed at graduates preparing for doctoral study and offers a stated salary range of $65,447 to $75,632 a year.
Key facts
- The fellowship is a full-time, one-year staff position at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
- It is intended for applicants preparing for PhD study in economics, agricultural and resource economics, development studies, public policy or related fields.
- The stated salary range is $65,447 to $75,632 per year.
- Applications received by 15 October 2026 will receive full consideration.
- Cornell says F-1 OPT and STEM OPT holders can apply, but no other visa sponsorship or relocation assistance is available.
What does this mean for students and recent graduates?
The opening is most relevant to graduates who have finished a bachelor’s degree and want research experience before a PhD. Cornell says candidates should have a degree in economics, business, public policy, mathematics, statistics or a related field, plus 2 to 4 years of relevant experience or an equivalent mix of education and experience. The role is designed to build practical research skills in a university setting while working with faculty on development economics projects.
For applicants, the practical constraints matter as much as the research fit. The job is onsite in Ithaca, New York, and Cornell says there is no other visa sponsorship or relocation assistance beyond eligibility for F-1 OPT/STEM OPT applicants. The application asks for a resume and a cover letter that explain research interests, quantitative experience and the applicant’s interest in doctoral study.
- Deadline: 15 October 2026 for full consideration.
- Where: Cornell University’s Ithaca Main Campus, New York, USA.
- What to submit: Resume and cover letter.
- What helps: Coursework in econometrics and statistics, and familiarity with Stata or R.
What kind of work will fellows do?
Selected fellows will support faculty principal investigators and research teams on development economics projects. The duties listed by Cornell include data collection, cleaning and analysis, developing research code, supporting survey design and implementation, and helping with literature reviews, manuscripts, conference presentations and research talks.
The fellowship also includes administrative and professional development work. Fellows may help prepare materials for CIDER programmes and events, provide logistical support for workshops and seminars, participate in research seminars, and access training through CIDER and other Cornell units. Cornell also says some fellows may serve as teaching assistants for a related course by mutual agreement with supervising faculty.
Why is CIDER recruiting for this role?
CIDER describes itself as a cross-campus initiative involving faculty from Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences and the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. Its research areas include poverty, food insecurity, agricultural and rural development, labor markets, nutrition, resilience and structural transformation.
The fellowship is meant to prepare promising researchers for doctoral study while giving them hands-on exposure to applied research. Cornell says multiple fellows are expected to join a cohort alongside continuing CIDER pre-doctoral fellows, and the appointment may be renewed for up to two years depending on performance and funding.
Who is eligible to apply?
Cornell says candidates should have coursework in econometrics and statistics, experience with statistical software such as Stata or R, strong analytical and organizational skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively. The posting also values experience working with people from different socioeconomic backgrounds and incorporating perspectives from multiple communities.
Preferred qualifications include a master’s degree, a senior thesis or other relevant research experience, and additional tools such as ArcGIS, Python or SQL. Language proficiency in French, Spanish, Swahili, Tamil or Portuguese is also listed as preferred, not required.
How do applicants apply?
Applicants must apply through Cornell’s online careers platform and submit a resume and cover letter. Cornell says applications received by 15 October 2026 will get full consideration, though later applications may still be reviewed until the positions are filled. The contact listed in the posting is Melissa Dorward-Bauman at msm298@cornell.edu.
What salary and benefits are listed?
The fellowship is paid and comes with Cornell employee benefits. The posting lists health care options, retirement contributions, wellness programmes, employee discounts, vacation and personal leave, paid holidays, winter break, educational benefits, tuition-related programmes and professional development opportunities.
Cornell says the actual hiring rate may depend on prior relevant experience, education, applicable skills and academic discipline, even though the posted range tops out at $75,632 per year.
