Pathways to Research and Doctoral Careers
Pathways to Research and Doctoral Careers (PREDOC) is a consortium of universities and research institutions that aims to foster a talented, diverse, and inclusive population in the quantitative social sciences.
PREDOC’s strategy is to leverage the booming market of full-time pre-doctoral research assistantships (“pre-docs”), working with our partners to expand the talent pool; reduce informational frictions; scout for talent; and engage, mentor, and educate students from any background. Our goal is to help pre-doc and PhD programs identify and admit those who are likely to move the quantitative social sciences forward, while simultaneously supporting those nascent scholars on their way to a research career.
Here's who we are and what we do at a glance.
Learn more about the pathway to a pre-doc with this video.
The Pre-doc Track
Why research?
Why research in the quantitative social sciences? Economics and business are broad disciplines, that encompass much more than predicting the stock market. Learn more here about a research career in general, and the quantitative social sciences in particular.
Why research?
Why do a pre-doc?
Pre-doctoral opportunities (pre-docs) are full-time jobs supporting faculty research that typically last two years. They are a great option for people who are considering a PhD but aren't completely sure they're ready, or that a PhD is what they want. Learn how many opportunities a pre-doc—and a PhD—can prepare you for.
Why do a pre-doc?
Affordability
One of the biggest benefits of a pre-doc is that it's a job. Unlike a Master's degree, where you're paying tuition, a pre-doc pays you. PhD study, likewise, comes with significant financial assistance. We're gathered some hard numbers to help you evaluate your options.
Affordability
Office Hours
Want to learn more? Sign up for office hours with PREDOC-affiliated researchers to learn more about research careers and ask questions about any point in the pathway.
Office HoursEducation
PRE Workshop
The PRE Workshop, held on June 9, is a great chance to learn more about how to prepare for a pre-doc, and how to be successful in the role. You can even get individual feedback on a sample data task.
PRE Workshop
Data Science for Research Assistance
This asynchronous course lets you proceed at your own pace as you learn the basics of R and STATA, two important coding languages in social science. Zero coding experience is required to start.
Data Science for Research Assistance
Explore Opportunities
Pre-doc Opportunities
Review a comprehensive list of full-time pre-doc opportunities
Pre-doc Opportunities
RA Opportunities
Investigate postings for part-time RAships that can be completed remotely
RA Opportunities
Other programs
Learn about other programs outside of PREDOC that support nascent researchers
Other programsHiring Managers
Hiring Pre-docs
Learn how to post pre-doc positions on our Opportunities page, and general best practices and resources for pre-doc hiring.
Hiring Pre-docs
Mentorship
Mentorship is key to expanding the pathway to research careers, and it rarely happens automatically. PREDOC has curated concrete and proven strategies to help PIs mentor their pre-docs (and part-time RAs, and graduate students, and undergrads, and...).
Mentorship
Overview of the Consortium
PREDOC is committed to cultivating research environments and workplaces that are diverse and inclusive. We actively recruit and mentor pre-docs who bring new perspectives to our academic disciplines and strengthen our ideas. Our practices include:
- Proactively reaching out to, mentoring, and recruiting individuals who are underrepresented in our fields.
- Expanding our engagement with diverse populations to increase and diversify the pool of pre-doctoral candidates.
- Establishing academic and professional development opportunities, including mentorship programs, research assistantships, and courses.
- Counseling hiring managers on best hiring practices.
- Establishing program-wide mentoring, as well as academic and professional development opportunities, for current pre-docs.
While consortium institutions are primarily business schools and economics departments, we welcome interest from individuals with a wide range academic backgrounds. The faculties at PREDOC institutions include economists, computer scientists, statisticians, psychologists, engineers, and sociologists, to name only a few fields. We are eager to engage with anyone interested in quantitative research in the social sciences.
Connect with PREDOC
Our newsletters share job openings, events, and all things pre-doctoral positions. Sign up today to stay informed.