Pathways to Research and Doctoral Careers (PREDOC.org) is a consortium of universities and research institutions that aims to remove barriers to access to research and doctoral careers. These barriers include asymmetries of information, education, credentialing, and affordability.
PREDOC.org’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.
Learn more about the pathway to a pre-doc with this video.
Interested in applying to a pre-doc? Are you a hiring manager hoping to recruit exceptional talent? Find resources below!
Agentic AI is an asynchronous course offered through PREDOC.org, moderated by Janani Sekar, Pre-Doctoral Fellow at the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. The course equips participants with practical tools to design and implement capable agentic workflows for research, drawing on insights from CAAI staff and faculty.
Agentic AI
PREDOC.org's free Data Science for Research Assistants course is back...this time in Python! Now anyone with a basic knowledge of statistics can translate that knowledge into practice using the coding language Python.
The course covers Python, Git version control, GitHub, and Jupyter Notebooks—all essential tools for Python coding and data science. Get started today at the link!
New Python Course
PREDOC.org is pleased to announce its fourth annual Student Research Conference, hosted by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business from July 30-31, 2026. At this conference, students present their original research in quantitative social science fields to fellow undergraduates, faculty, PhD students, and pre-docs.
The 2026 Call for Proposals closed on March 2, 2026. Decisions are expected to go out in mid-March.
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You're one stop shop to all things pre-doc. Whether you're a current student or recent graduate, our network provides resources and support for those looking to jump start a research career in the social sciences!
Pre-doctoral research experience can be an invaluable step in preparing for a PhD, exploring a research career and whether it's right for you, and gaining access to a wide array of opportunities along the way. Plus, it's paid!
Why do a Pre-doc?
Where to start? Access information and resources related to best practices during your undergraduate year and navigating the pre-doctoral application process.
Review a comprehensive list of full-time pre-doc opportunities from academic institutions and industry research groups. Jobs are open for people those who have graduated or will graduate with their BA.
Opportunities
One of the strongest indicators of success in a pre-doctoral position is previous research assistant experience. Several organizations and institutions offer research assistantship programs during the summer term.
Other Programs
Sign up for our Office Hours with a Social Scientist events!
Office HoursFAQ
Research in business and economics is highly interdisciplinary and draws scholars from disciplines such as Economics, Psychology, Mathematics, Statistics, History, Accounting, Computer Science, Sociology, Engineering, and many others. Explore our Research Areas page to find creative questions posed and answered by research professionals.
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.
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.
Consider advertising a research opportunity on one of our job boards! We receive thousands of new visitors to our opportunities page every month, where we host full-time non-clinical post-bacc positions ideal for those interested in doctoral programs and research careers in the quantitative social sciences. We also work to offer a catalog of part-time research jobs and internships (for current students and individuals seeking part-time work) as well as a summer programs roundup on our site.
If interested, please email us the below information:
Sponsoring Researcher(s):
Sponsoring Institution:
Fields of Research:
Deadline/First Review Date:
Application Link:
PREDOC.org members actively recruit and mentor pre-docs who bring new perspectives to our academic disciplines and strengthen our ideas. Our practices include:
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.org 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.
Our newsletters share job openings, events, and all things pre-doctoral positions. Sign up today to stay informed.