PhD and Postdoc Innovation Economics Boot Camp (NBER, Cambridge, MA, 2026)

The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) is hosting the fifth Innovation Research Boot Camp in Cambridge, MA, from July 17–23, 2026. This fully funded program, supported by Coefficient Giving (formerly Open Philanthropy), is designed for PhD students and recent PhDs (including postdocs, faculty, and non-academic research affiliates) who have completed at least two years of PhD coursework in economics or closely related fields such as financial economics. The boot camp aims to encourage young scholars to pursue research in the economics of innovation and innovation policy, covering topics like economic growth, firm dynamics, inequality, labor market outcomes, public finance, international trade, organizational economics, and urban economics. The weeklong program features lectures by leading scholars including Kevin Bryan (University of Toronto), Pierre Azoulay (MIT Sloan), Ina Ganguli (UMass Amherst), Ben Jones (Northwestern Kellogg), Chad Jones (Stanford GSB), Kyle Myers (Harvard Business School), Jeff Kling (Congressional Budget Office), Heidi Williams (Dartmouth), and keynote speaker Zach Liscow (Yale Law School). Participants will also attend two days of the NBER Summer Institute Innovation Policy meeting and engage in panel discussions on research and careers. Eligibility requires at least two years of PhD coursework in economics or a related field. Applicants who have previously attended the Innovation Research Boot Camp are not eligible. The NBER covers travel, lodging for up to eight nights, and meals for all participants. Applications are open to scholars worldwide, with selection by a panel including Kevin Bryan, Ina Ganguli, and Kyle Myers. The application deadline is February 12, 2026, and decisions will be announced by early March. To apply, candidates must submit a single PDF containing a cover letter (with contact information and the name of a recommender), a CV, a list of PhD courses, and a one-page research essay. A confidential recommendation letter should be sent separately by the recommender. For more information, visit the NBER website or contact the organizers via the provided emails.