Robert H. McGuckin III Summer Fellowship in Economics, 2010

Robert H. McGuckin III
Summer Fellowship in Economics, 2010
The Conference Board, New York

This position is for a Ph.D. student in economics who is interested in spending three months as a Research Fellow at The Conference Board’s Economics Department in New York. During this period, the Fellow is expected to work on research topics of his/her choosing – related to the department’s research program. The project will be carried out under supervision from at least one of the department’s senior staff economics and/or Senior Advisors.

The topic should be related to one of the department’s key programs – such as measurement and empirical analysis of productivity, technology and innovation and/or labor market issues, business cycle indicators. An international comparative perspective for the study is strongly preferred, and the inclusion of one or more emerging market economies is recommended. Both macro and microeconomic projects are acceptable, but a strong empirical element and a potential relevance of the results from a business perspective are important.

Applications will be judged on the basis of how they advance the understanding of the structural underpinning of global economic growth, innovation, or comparative competitive dynamics at the firm level. Proposals with emerging market emphasis will be given special preference. The position is intended for students interested in applying their empirical skills to cutting edge problems rather than the development of new theory.

The Fellowship will extend for three months and includes a 10,000 US$ stipend to allow for cost of living and other expenses while in New York. The Fellow is expected to deliver at the minimum an (academic) paper for the department’s research working paper series and a shorter report – based on the paper – that is focused on a business audience. Fellow may be asked to make a presentation to a business audience at the conclusion of the project.

The Robert H. McGuckin III Summer Fellowship was created in 2007 in memory of Robert McGuckin, who served as Director of Economic Research at The Conference Board from 1997 until his untimely death in 2006.

Applicants are asked to send:

an application letter – with a description of the motivation for the fellowship
a CV and list (or if possible) sample of existing papers
a one page study proposal, including an indication of the relevance of the results from a business perspective
an indication of the desirable period for the fellowship between 1 May 2010 and 31 October 2010
two names (including emails and phone number) of references

The selection is made by a department committee, including the Chief Economist.

Application can be emailed before 1 May 2010 to: eco_jobs@conference-board.org. Please reference McGuckin Fellowship on the subject line.