The Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania is recruiting outstanding recent graduates for its Pre-Doctoral Research Associate Program. This full-time paid opportunity allows aspiring researchers to work directly with Wharton finance faculty for 1–2 years while preparing competitive applications for PhD programmes in economics, finance, public policy and other quantitative social sciences.
The programme is designed for graduates who want intensive research experience before beginning doctoral study and offers access to Wharton’s world-renowned academic community, graduate-level coursework and leading scholars in finance and economics.
Programme Overview
- Host Institution: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- Centre: Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research
- Position: Pre-Doctoral Research Associate (Research Specialist)
- Employment Type: Full-time
- Duration: 1–2 years
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Application Status: Open
- Ideal Candidates: Outstanding recent college graduates planning to pursue a PhD
Research Associates become members of a collaborative cohort working across the Finance Department and other Wharton departments while contributing to cutting-edge academic research.
Research Areas Available
The Rodney White Center is currently hiring Research Associates to support faculty conducting research in several high-impact areas of economics and finance.
Position 1 supports Professors Patrick Adams, Lu Liu and Huan Tang, with research focusing on:
- Monetary policy
- FinTech
- Data economy
- Wealth inequality
Position 2 supports Professors Gideon Bornstein, Sasha Indarte and Sergio Salgado, with research in:
- Macroeconomics
- Household finance
- Economic inequality
Successful candidates will contribute to quantitative research projects, data analysis and the production of publishable academic research.
What the Programme Offers
The Pre-Doctoral Research Associate Program provides significantly more than a traditional research assistant position. Associates are encouraged to become active members of the Wharton research community through academic and professional development opportunities.
Benefits include:
- Full-time paid research experience
- Direct mentorship from Wharton faculty
- Participation in research seminars and workshops
- Opportunity to explore independent research interests
- Access to graduate-level classes at Wharton
- Membership in a cohort of pre-doctoral researchers
- Strong preparation for competitive PhD admissions
The programme is specifically designed to strengthen candidates for doctoral programmes at leading universities worldwide.
Eligibility Requirements
The opportunity is intended for recent college graduates with exceptional quantitative ability and a demonstrated interest in academic research.
Competitive applicants typically have backgrounds in fields such as:
- Economics
- Finance
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Public Policy
- Other quantitative social sciences
Applicants should have strong analytical skills, experience working with quantitative methods and a genuine interest in pursuing doctoral research.
Application Requirements
A complete application must include:
- Cover letter explaining the motivation for becoming a pre-doctoral researcher
- Current résumé or CV
- Most recent academic transcript
The cover letter should clearly describe the applicant’s research interests, long-term academic goals and why the Rodney White Center is an appropriate environment for their development.
Why This Opportunity Is Valuable
Pre-doctoral research programmes have become one of the strongest pathways into top PhD programmes in economics and finance. By working closely with internationally recognized faculty, Research Associates gain practical experience in empirical research, advanced quantitative analysis and academic publishing.
Associates also benefit from daily exposure to seminars, visiting scholars and interdisciplinary research, enabling them to refine their research interests before applying to doctoral programmes.
For graduates seeking careers in academia, economic research, public policy or quantitative finance, the programme offers exceptional preparation for future study and research leadership.
How to Strengthen Your Application
Applicants can improve their chances by demonstrating both technical competence and a clear commitment to research.
A strong application should:
- Highlight quantitative coursework and academic excellence.
- Include research experience, honours projects or thesis work.
- Demonstrate proficiency in statistical or programming tools where relevant.
- Explain specific research interests that align with Wharton faculty.
- Clearly articulate long-term plans to pursue a PhD.
Rather than simply listing achievements, applicants should show how previous academic experiences have prepared them for rigorous collaborative research.
Undergraduate Research Fellow Program
In addition to the pre-doctoral programme, the Rodney White Center also operates an Undergraduate Research Fellow Program for current Wharton and University of Pennsylvania undergraduate students. Undergraduate Fellows assist faculty and PhD candidates with financial modelling, data collection, data analysis and research conferences throughout the academic year.
This undergraduate programme is restricted to Penn students only and accepts applications on an ongoing basis.
How to Apply
Interested recent graduates should submit their application through the University of Pennsylvania’s official careers portal for the relevant Research Specialist position.
Host Institution: Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Application Status: Open
