Pre-Doctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP)

BFI’s Pre-doctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP) offers substantial advantages for both faculty and  research professionals (RPs). By joining PREP, RPs gain access to comprehensive professional development programming, structured preparation for PhD applications—including support for completing Real Analysis and GRE preparation—and access to a community of peers pursuing similar academic goals. 

Faculty benefit from BFI's research support department and programming, recruiting infrastructure, standardized performance evaluation support, and access to additional HR, Finance, and Executive team resources when needed. This partnership allows faculty to focus on research while PREP handles the complexities of RP professional development and career preparation.

Participation requires coordination of HR functions through BFI, including the following:

• Compensation ($59,000 for BA-level or $62,000 for MA-level RPs)

• Professional Development funding for each RP ($2,000)

• Payment of relevant buy-in fee 

• RP attendance at Orientation Week (August) and annual Spring Retreat (May). 

In exchange, RPs receive the full suite of program benefits—from relocation assistance and rideshare reimbursements to dedicated time and accommodations for PhD application preparation. By aligning RPs with PREP standards, faculty invest in their long-term success while gaining institutional support that strengthens your entire research operation.

For more information or to discuss recruiting or placing your current RPs in PREP, please contact Amy Elliot-Meisel, Manager of Research Support Programs at BFI at aelliotmeisel@uchicago.edu.