The Weiss Fund Fellowship for Junior Researchers is offering supplementary financial support to exceptional economics PhD candidates entering academic or research positions in eligible developing countries. The fellowship is designed to encourage talented early-career economists to pursue research and academic careers in countries where development economics research can have significant local and international impact.
The programme is particularly relevant to 2027–28 job market candidates considering Assistant Professor, postdoctoral or equivalent research positions in countries eligible for support from the Weiss Fund.
The fellowship can provide up to $40,000 per year, consisting of salary supplementation and research support, for a maximum of three years.
Fellowship Benefits
Successful fellows can receive:
- $20,000 per year to supplement their salary
- $20,000 per year for eligible research expenses and/or visits to leading economics departments
- Fellowship support for up to three years
- Eligibility to apply for additional Weiss Fund research calls
Postdoctoral and equivalent research candidates may have some flexibility in how funding is allocated between salary and research support.
The salary supplement is subject to a phase-out mechanism. A marginal tax rate of 50% applies to the subsidy for base salaries above $40,000, with the subsidy fully phased out at a base salary of $80,000 or more.
Who Can Apply?
The fellowship is intended for candidates who are currently on the academic job market for positions beginning in 2027–28 and who meet the programme’s academic and geographic requirements.
Applicants must have completed, or be on track to complete, a PhD in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Resource Economics, Public Policy or a closely related field by 1 July 2027.
Candidates who completed their PhD before 2025 are not eligible.
Applicants must also be prepared to be based in a Weiss Fund-eligible developing country for the duration of the fellowship and must have no other employment during the fellowship period.
Fellowship Tracks
The programme has two principal eligibility tracks.
Track 1: Assistant Professor Positions
Applicants must hold an Assistant Professor offer at an academic institution located in a Weiss Fund-eligible country. Eligible countries generally have a per-capita GDP below $13,750 in current US dollars, with preference given to countries below $6,875.
Track 2: Postdoctoral or Equivalent Research Positions
Applicants affiliated with a globally leading university through a postdoctoral fellowship or equivalent research appointment may also qualify if they are based in an eligible country.
These fellows are expected to spend at least 65% of their time in Weiss-eligible countries. They must also develop connections with a research community in the country or region, potentially through a university, development institution, World Bank country office or organisation such as Innovations for Poverty Action.
Track 2 applicants must submit a research statement describing projects they intend to pursue during the fellowship. Their proposed research must align with the objectives of the Weiss Fund.
Research Focus
The fellowship seeks candidates whose research contributes to development economics and has potential to generate useful evidence for low- and middle-income countries.
Selection considers the quality and strength of the applicant’s research, the potential long-term effect of the fellowship on their research trajectory and the fit between their research agenda and the Weiss Fund’s objectives.
Applicants may also be asked to provide information about their job market circumstances, including interviews, flyouts and competing offers.
Duration and Renewal
The fellowship can run for up to three years. Funding is renewed annually and is conditional on satisfactory performance.
Renewal considerations include compliance with fellowship requirements, continued presence in eligible countries, participation in a regional research community and progress on the fellow’s research programme.
Research progress may be demonstrated through activities such as securing research funding, registering pre-analysis plans, completing fieldwork, submitting papers and progressing manuscripts toward publication.
Required Application Materials
Applicants should prepare the following:
- Current CV
- Three letters of reference
- Job market information, including interviews, flyouts and offers
- Research statement of no more than three pages
- Job market paper
Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, particularly because having an eligible position is a core component of fellowship eligibility. Candidates do not necessarily need to have secured an eligible position when submitting an application.
How to Successfully Apply
Candidates should ensure that their research statement clearly establishes the development relevance of their research and demonstrates how the proposed work aligns with the Weiss Fund’s objectives.
The job market paper should reflect the applicant’s strongest research and demonstrate rigorous economic analysis. Applicants should also provide complete and accurate information about positions applied for, interviews, flyouts and offers.
Strong reference letters should provide evidence of research ability, academic potential and the candidate’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to development economics.
Application Deadline and Route
The application deadline listed by the American Economic Association’s Job Openings for Economists platform is 31 August 2027. However, the fellowship review process is described as ongoing until the search is closed, so candidates are encouraged to apply early rather than waiting until the final deadline.
Questions concerning the fellowship can be directed by email.
Why This Fellowship Is Valuable
The Weiss Fund Fellowship can help early-career economists overcome financial considerations associated with accepting academic or research positions in developing countries. By combining salary supplementation with research funding, the programme is designed to support researchers while they establish long-term research programmes in eligible countries.
The fellowship may be particularly valuable for economists whose career decisions involve weighing opportunities in eligible developing countries against competing positions elsewhere.
Key Details
Fellowship: Weiss Fund Fellowship for Junior Researchers
Field: Development Economics and related disciplines
Eligible fields: Economics, Agricultural Economics, Resource Economics, Public Policy and closely related fields
Location: Weiss Fund-eligible developing countries
Duration: Up to three years
Annual support: Up to $40,000
Salary supplement: $20,000 per year
Research support: $20,000 per year
PhD deadline: PhD completed by 1 July 2027
PhD eligibility: Applicants who completed their PhD before 2025 are not eligible
Target cohort: 2027–28 job market candidates
Application deadline: 31 August 2027
Application: Online through the American Economic Association JOE listing
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY
Eligible economists should review the official Weiss Fund Fellowship announcement and application requirements through the American Economic Association’s Job Openings for Economists platform before submitting their materials.
