The objective of the Cornell University STAARS Fellowship Program is to achieve the publication of research outcomes in reputable, peer-reviewed journals, as well as in the form of working papers.
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The annual call for research proposals is now open for the Structural Transformation of African Agriculture and Rural Spaces (STAARS) fellowship program. This collaborative initiative involves Cornell University, the World Bank’s Development Research Group, and the Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP).
In the upcoming year, early-career researchers chosen as STAARS Fellows in 2024 will drive impactful, policy-oriented research focused on exploring the causal factors behind productivity and income growth, asset accumulation, rural employment, and risk management in African agriculture and rural areas.
- Host: United States of America (USA)
- Category: Fellowships
- Eligible Country: African Countries
- Reward: Full Sponsorship
- Deadline: January 19, 2024
- Scholarship Updates: To receive Scholarship Alerts on WhatsApp, Click HERE
Cornell University Fellowship Details
The Cornell University STAARS program extends over 15 months, commencing from the anticipated selection date until the delivery of final outputs by the STAARS fellow. Successful STAARS fellows are paired with at least one primary mentor, who may be a faculty member, senior research staff, or an affiliated researcher at Cornell, the World Bank, or PEP, sharing a common interest in the proposed research topic. Additionally, fellows are connected with a more junior peer mentor.
Immediately following selection, collaborative mentorship initiates, marked by a series of launch workshops involving fellows, mentors, and STAARS leadership within the initial weeks of the fellowship. Subsequently, a phase of consistent remote collaboration ensues, featuring weekly or biweekly virtual meetings. Throughout this period, training workshops are strategically conducted at key junctures in the research process, aiming to facilitate fellows’ professional development and enhance their skill set.
These training workshops serve as valuable opportunities for fellows to refine their research methodologies, receive guidance on data analysis techniques, and enhance their overall research capabilities. The collaborative environment created during these workshops fosters a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights among fellows, mentors, and program leadership.
As the fellowship progresses, the mentorship and collaboration extend beyond geographical boundaries, facilitated by regular virtual meetings that provide a platform for ongoing discussions, progress updates, and troubleshooting. The mentorship structure, comprising both a main mentor with significant expertise and a peer mentor for additional support, ensures a comprehensive and tailored approach to each fellow’s research journey.
In addition to the substantive research focus, the STAARS program places a strong emphasis on the professional development of fellows. The training workshops cover a range of topics, including academic writing, effective communication of research findings, and strategies for publication in high-impact journals. These components contribute to the holistic growth of the fellows, preparing them not only as adept researchers but also as effective communicators of their findings.
By fostering a collaborative and supportive environment, the Cornell University STAARS program not only advances impactful research on African agriculture and rural spaces but also cultivates a community of scholars equipped with the skills and knowledge to contribute meaningfully to the broader academic and policy discourse.
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Cornell University Fellowship Requirement
To be considered for the Cornell University Fellowship, you must:
Be a early career researchers, either Ph.D. students in their final year prior to degree completion or preferably those who completed their Ph.D. no earlier than 2018.
Priority is given to researchers who have earned at least one degree from an African university, plan to work professionally in low- and lower-middle income countries, and have proposals relating to the research themes indicated above.
Qualified female researchers are particularly encouraged to apply.
STAARS welcomes applications from fresh Ph.D. graduates who can benefit from mentorship and additional training to become internationally respected and recognized researchers.
Fellows are expected to complete the proposed project by submitting findings as a draft working paper by December 13, 2024, and proceeding to submit the paper to a peer-reviewed journal and/or conferences by June 30, 2025.
Researchers are expected to be familiar with and have demonstrated access to existing data sets and have a strong working knowledge of appropriate software, typically Stata and/or R, and an interest in econometric analysis of high-quality data sets. Knowledge of geo-referenced data and GIS software to manage them is an asset.
Knowledge of Stata and/or R will be assessed at the finalist stage.
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Duration and Reward of Cornell University Fellowship
The Fellowship covers travel and training expenses
Required Documents for Cornell University Fellowship
To apply for the Cornell University Fellowship:
Applicants must prepare a maximum 2500-word research proposal, which motivates the selected research issues and objectives, outlines data sources and proposed methodology, and contains a convincing plan for completing the project by June 30, 2025. Projects that propose to use data that are not publicly available must provide documentation that they already have access to those data. All proposals shall be prepared in English.
How to Apply for Cornell University Fellowship
- Interested and qualified candidates should submit their completed proposals using the “CLICK HERE TO APPLY” button below.
- A worksheet that outlines the questions and can be used to collect answers prior to submitting online can be found using the link created below.
- Accepted applicants will be notified by mid-March 2024 and are expected to begin remote collaboration with their mentor and be prepared to join launch activities immediately upon acceptance.
Deadline: January 19, 2024
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