Herbert Scarf Summer Research Opportunities in Economics

Herbert Scarf Summer Research Opportunities in Economics is a program designed to give you a chance to get directly involved in the ongoing research of your professors. Working closely with a professor, you will get a better idea of what “doing research” actually means, and why your professors view it as exciting and worthwhile. You will also have an opportunity to learn, through practical experience, some of the skills associated with the process of doing research.

Participating students (Herb Scarf RA’s) will be required to work 160 hours (flexible) from May 22 to July 13. The students’ work schedules will be arranged with the professors at the onset of the program. Because the goal of the program is to have students and professors working together, if you are selected for a project you will be expected to be in New Haven during the work period. Participants will be paid $3,300. After completing the projects, students will be required to write a summary (one page or less) of their research activities.

A list of previous Herbert Scarf Summer Research Opportunity projects is posted here. Students apply for these opportunities via the Department of Economics website. To apply for a project, students must submit an application form along with an uploaded curriculum vita (or resume) and a brief cover letter explaining why you are interested in the project. The respective professor(s) will receive an email of your application, curriculum vita, and cover letter. The Undergraduate Registrar in the Department of Economics, Qazi Azam, will also receive a copy of your application materials.

Note: Students may apply to at most four projects (one application per project). Any student who has not previously participated in the program may apply, but students who have completed more of the required coursework in economics (particularly the core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics) are more likely to possess the quantitative skills that professors find useful in conducting research. Herbert Scarf RA positions are not available to seniors (Class of 2018).

Application Information: Students may apply for Herbert Scarf Summer Research opportunities here.

Any student who has not previously participated in the program may apply, but students who have completed more of the required coursework in economics (particularly the core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics) are more likely to possess the quantitative skills that professors find useful in conducting research. Herb Scarf RA positions are not available to seniors (Class of 2018).