Kabir Banerjee Predoctoral Fellowship Finalists

Founded to honor the life of Kabir Banerjee, this predoctoral fellowship is an initiative by the Weiss Fund for Research in Development Economics that seeks to expand the representation of researchers from low and lower-middle income countries in leading academic programs in development economics. The Fellowship supports candidates with substantial interest and potential for success in an academic career in development economics who otherwise may have limited access to mentorship and training from leading economists.

The Weiss Fund sponsors Kabir Banerjee Predoctoral Fellows admitted into pre-approved two-year predoctoral positions in leading institutions. Predoctoral programs are intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. Kabir Banerjee Predoctoral Fellows work directly with some of the world’s leading development economists. Launched in 2022, this annual Fellowship works with leading academic institutions to facilitate the hiring of promising applicants.

The Weiss Fund extends congratulations to the finalists of its second Kabir Banerjee Predoctoral Fellowship cohort!

The Weiss Fund is endorsing 23 Fellowship Finalists. Those Finalists that go on to be hired will become Kabir Banerjee Predoctoral Fellows.

This year, the Fellowship received more than 100 applications from eligible candidates in 32 countries. Applicants were required to have a Secondary, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree from an institution in a low- or lower-middle income country, as well as working proficiency in English. Preferred areas of study included Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, or related disciplines with an emphasis on quantitative analysis. Each application was assessed on technical skills, motivation, and alternative access for mentorship.

After an intensive vetting process, 23 candidates earned the endorsement of the Weiss Fund to apply to predoctoral positions with leading economists that have served on the Weiss Fund Committee.

The 23 Fellowship Finalists from the class of 2023 come from 11 countries in Central, South, East Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa. Most of these candidates were in the top 10% of their class and obtained an average GRE quantitative score of 166 out of 170. Finalists went through a highly competitive vetting process over the course of four months and showed enormous promise to contribute academically to the field of development economics.