Application Deadline: January 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.
Applications are now open for the 2025 Structural Transformation of African Agriculture and Rural Spaces (STAARS) fellowship Program. The STARS Fellowship Program pairs early-career researchers with faculty mentors to advance rigorous, policy-oriented research on the causal determinants of productivity and income growth, asset accumulation, rural employment and risk management in agriculture and rural spaces. The core objectives of the program include:
- Heighten the exposure and rigorous analysis of high-quality, publicly available data, such as LSMS-ISA data and other micro-level panel data sets.
- Build and reinforce an effective policy research culture among early-career researchers that can help build and sustain research capacity at their institutions beyond the STARS program.
- Provide mentorship to early-career researchers by Cornell University and other affiliated institution faculty and researchers.
- Conduct professional development activities to supplement the research process, including trainings, seminars, and feedback sessions.
- Create an active network of equipped, policy-engaged, collaborative researchers, connected to leading global authorities in the development research space.
Eligibility Requirements
- Early career researchers, either Ph.D. students in their final year prior to degree completion or those who completed their Ph.D. no earlier than 2019
- Familiarity with and demonstrated access to data sets in your research proposal. STARS does not provide funding for new data collection.
- Strong working knowledge of appropriate software, typically Stata and/or R, and an interest in econometric analysis of high-quality data sets. Knowledge of Stata and/or R will be assessed at the finalist stage.
- Priority given to:
- Researchers who have earned at least one degree from an institution in a low- or lower-middle income country[1][2]
- Researchers planning to work professionally in low- and lower-middle income countries in the future
- Proposals relating to one or more of the research themes indicated above
- Qualified female researchers
Benefits
- Fellows will receive funds to cover travel and participation in a three-week visit to Cornell University and their mentor’s home institution. The remainder of the research coordination and professional development training will occur virtually.
- Fellows are expected to commit significant time to the mandatory research and capacity development activities.
- A modest honorarium will be provided to each Fellow. No salary support is available; STARS does not cover the scholar’s time allocated to this research.
Application Procedure:
- Applicants should submit their completed proposals via the STARS online application.
- Accepted applicants will be notified by April 1, 2025, and are expected to begin remote collaboration with their mentor and be prepared to join launch activities immediately upon acceptance.
- Any questions about the application process or program should be directed to [email protected].
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