Inter-American Development Bank Research Department
Summer Dissertation Fellowship Program

The Research Department (RES - http://www.iadb.org/en/about-us/departments/research-department-about-us,3777.html?source=VisitingScholars) of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB - http://www.iadb.org/en/inter-american-development-bank,2837.html) is now accepting applications for the Summer Dissertation Fellowship Program.

OVERVIEW: The program seeks to foster close collaboration between future academics and IDB staff. Fellows must be enrolled full time in a Ph.D. program during their appointments. The program is housed at IDB headquarters in Washington, D.C. Fellows are required to be in residence for the duration of their appointments, which are expected to last one to two months.

Starting Date: June 1 – July 1, 2013

Salary: Approximately $4,000 per month

Application Deadline: May 1, 2013

Results: May 15, 2013

Fields: Economics, public policy, political science, or related fields

The program offers fellows the opportunity to do their own research, which usually means working on a chapter of their dissertations while engaging in discussions with IDB staff. Fellows enjoy full access to the IDB library (http://www.iadb.org/en/library/felipe-herrera-library,1504.html) and electronic resources. Most interestingly, they have access to a broad network of practitioners, scholars, and policymakers. They are also welcome to attend all events, such as research and policy seminars, talks, and workshops. A fellow will also have the chance to publish his or her work as an IDB working paper if it passes the peer-review process. Fellows are expected to give at least one presentation at any of the Research Department seminars.

TOPICS: Each year, the program is focused on a different area of interest for the IDB. This year, the program is seeking applicants who are working on issues related to Early Childhood (defined as children aged 0 to nine) and have a concentration in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Within this broad area, the following topics are of keen interest:
1. Evaluation of cost-effective early-childhood interventions in education, health, and social protection.
2. The optimal timing of programs in children’s lives.
3. Long-run impact of early-childhood events (e.g., policy interventions, family circumstances, natural disasters, political events, famines, etc.).
4. The connection between nutrition, cognitive stimulation, and education in early childhood.
5. Measurement of health, cognitive, and noncognitive outcomes early in life (i.e., 0 to 24 months).
6. The impact of quality in early-childhood service delivery.

ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must hold citizenship of at least one of the 48 IDB member countries (http://www.iadb.org/en/about-us/member-countries,6291.html), be currently enrolled full time in a Ph.D. program in economics, public policy, political science or related field, and be working on their dissertations (i.e., third, fourth, or fifth-year graduate students only). Moreover, it is expected that the fellows will return to their educational institutions once their appointments have ended.

We at the IDB are committed to gender equality, and encourage women to apply. We also seek diversity in terms of nationality, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, and educational background. Persons with disabilities or living with HIV/AIDS are equally encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Applicants with relatives working for the IDB who are within the fourth degree of consanguinity and the second degree of affinity, are not eligible. This condition also applies to IDB staff members and consultants. A complete application consists of:
- A cover letter/letter of introduction.
- A research proposal that addresses the following (no more than three pages):
- Title of proposed project while in residence at the IDB;
- Description of research project and work plan;
Desired starting date and length of stay (must be between one and two months).
- Curriculum vitae.
- Reference letter from the applicant’s dissertation advisor.

Applications must be submitted through the following link no later than May 1, 2013:
https://iadbcareers.taleo.net/careersection/external/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=76701

FURTHER INFORMATION: See:
http://www.iadb.org/en/about-us/departments/research-department-about-us,3777.html?source=VisitingScholars for more information about the Research Department.