Research Fellowship at Stanford Law School
Several professors at Stanford Law, including economists John Donohue and Dan Kessler, are seeking full-time Research Fellows to begin work in the summer of 2023. This is a unique opportunity for graduating seniors and recent college graduates to participate in groundbreaking empirical legal and social science research. Past fellows have found the experience to be valuable preparation for graduate school and have matriculated to a number of prestigious graduate, law, and business programs.
Commitment:
Full-time, starting Summer 2023. Some applicants available to start earlier will also be considered. Fellowships last for one year, with an option to renew for a second year by mutual agreement of the professor and the fellow.
Description:
Assist faculty members at Stanford Law School conducting timely and policy-relevant research in empirical social science, including economists John J. Donohue and Daniel Kessler. Designed for graduating seniors or recent college or master’s program graduates, the fellowship provides a unique opportunity for those considering graduate school, law school,
and/or business school in the future.
Prior Research Fellows have matriculated to Ph.D. programs at Harvard, Stanford, Yale, MIT, Princeton, Columbia, and NYU and law school at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Columbia. They have been drawn from a variety of undergraduate disciplines, including economics, political science, applied math, public policy, statistics, and computer science.
Successful applicants will be matched with a specific professor based on background and interests. As full-time Stanford University employees, fellows will receive a competitive salary and benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, access to campus athletic and academic facilities, paid vacation time, professional development funds, and the capacity to audit Stanford courses and attend on-campus lectures and seminars free of charge.
Job responsibilities will vary by position, but involve all aspects of the research process including:
▪ Conceptualization of suitable empirical methodologies and models
▪ Collecting, managing, and structuring quantitative datasets
▪ Statistical analyses of complex datasets and interpretation of results
▪ Communication with government officials, industry stakeholders, and research collaborators
▪ Report writing and manuscript preparation
Job qualifications:
▪ Experience in a quantitative discipline, such as economics, political
science, computer science, statistics, or applied math
▪ Training in causal inference and/or machine learning methods
▪ Bachelor’s degree, preferably in the social sciences or another relevant field
▪ Outstanding academic credentials and intellectual creativity
▪ Eagerness to take initiative and solve intricate problems
▪ Excellent time-management skills and ability to work effectively with minimal supervision
▪ Exceptional research and analytical writing skills
▪ Programming experience in R, Python, Stata, SAS, and/or other languages is strongly preferred
▪ Prior research experience and coursework in the empirical social sciences is preferred, but not required
How to apply:
There will be two rounds of application review. The deadline for the first round is 7:00 AM PST on Monday, October 17, 2022. The deadline for the second round will be decided in late October, depending on the needs of the program. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis and preference will be given to first-round applicants. Applicants with OPT are automatically eligible for this position. Depending on the circumstances, applicants who require J-1 visa sponsorship may also meet the eligibility requirements. Please apply online at https://law.stanford.edu/research/sls-fellowships/empirical-research-fellowship. Make sure to upload each of the following:
▪ Brief cover letter explaining your interest in the position and which graduate degree(s), if any, you hope to pursue
▪ Current resume
▪ Transcript (unofficial version acceptable)
▪ Short academic writing sample, preferably empirical or social science-related
▪ Contact information for no fewer than two academic references who can attest to your academic research skills and for any additional references who can speak to your character and professional skills
If you have any additional comments or questions, please see the FAQs on the fellowship website above.