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Research Fellows Program

The Stanford GSB Research Fellows Program is a two-year, fully-funded predoctoral program that provides a diverse set of fellows with the opportunity to gain research experience and preparation for doctoral studies in business or related fields.

We believe that the keys to strengthening and diversifying the pool of PhD students — and eventually, the faculty pipeline — are the close mentoring relationships and practical research experience that this fellowship provides.

Explore Academic Research Hands-On

Our faculty conduct research on a wide variety of cutting-edge topics. You will get hands-on research experience working with faculty on their research projects.

This fellowship program offers two tracks that allow you to either gain exposure and experience across multiple projects and fields, or work more closely with specific faculty members, over the course of two years.

A group sitting around a meeting table in discussion

Rotate between projects with different faculty each quarter based on project availability and your interest.

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Provide dedicated research support to specific faculty members for the duration of the program.

Decide If a PhD Program Is Right for You

We have designed this program for individuals who are preparing for or considering applying to a PhD program to help inform their decisions about doctoral studies. Fellows are fully immersed in the research environment and receive exposure to our fields of study:

  • Accounting
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Operations, information, and technology
  • Organizational behavior
  • Political economics

Because of our strong belief in the value of diversity in the pursuit of our educational and research missions, we particularly encourage applications from women and underrepresented groups, as well as from those whose backgrounds and experience would bring additional dimensions to their field.

Alumni Spotlights

University of California Berkeley PhD Program

“I’m proud of the hard data and programming skills that I picked up on the job, but it’s truly the research maturity — the ability to formulate a good question, focus on the big picture, and translate abstract ideas into actionable tasks — that I don't think I would have gotten somewhere else.”

Stanford GSB PhD Program

“While in the Research Fellows program, I developed technical skills and clarified my research interests, which has helped me smoothly adjust to the rigors of a doctoral program. The GSB is a special intellectual community; every day, I came to campus curious and excited for the challenges of my work.”

Duke University Fuqua School of Business PhD Program

“This program is unique in that the faculty, PhD students, other fellows, and staff are genuinely interested in your success. Through this program, I worked alongside faculty with whom I am still in contact with and met intelligent and curious research fellows and PhD students who created a challenging, intellectually stimulating, and entertaining environment that greatly enhanced my time at Stanford GSB.”

Find Mentorship & Community

Our program has a tradition of collaboration where faculty, PhD students, and research fellows work alongside each other and are invested in each others’ success. Co-located in cubicle spaces alongside PhD students, you will be guided by renowned faculty mentors who will support your professional growth and be immersed in the supportive community of PhD students.

As members of Pathways to Research and Predoctoral Careers, we are committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive research environment where scholars from diverse backgrounds and life experiences can thrive.

Prepare for Your Future

We provide a unique opportunity to gain training and education that are valuable for admission to a doctoral program and foundational to a long-term career in academic research. As non-degree students, fellows have access to the wide array of resources and facilities at Stanford University.

You will develop close relationships with faculty, who will guide you as you participate actively in the research process, develop skills, and select courses to round out your transcript. You may also request recommendation letters from the faculty with whom you work.