Expanding Discovery in Economics+ Summer Institute
The EDE+ Summer Institute provides participants with an extraordinary nine-week experience to enhance their research skills, gain technical expertise, and connect with like-minded peers interested in changing the world through the quantitative social sciences. This program is open to students from all backgrounds.
Program Format
The EDE+ Summer Institute is an annual, nine-week program designed to provide comprehensive exposure to the quantitative social sciences. Each year, the program combines both full- and part-time elements, with a blend of in-person and online engagement. Programming features a week-long virtual bootcamp, followed by in-residence experiences in Washington, DC (with the Hutchins Center at Brookings), Chicago, Illinois (at UChicago), and a six-week evening synchronous online course—allowing time for participants to pursue other opportunities during the day. The EDE+ 2026 Summer Institute will take place from June 1 to July 29, 2026. Applications are now open to join the 2026 cohort and will close on February 16, 2026. See below for a general program sketch:
Virtual Bootcamp Highlights (Week 1: June 1-7)
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Intensive instruction on statistical programming
Washington, DC Programming Highlights (Week 2: June 8-14)
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Hear informative lectures from Brookings fellows and other experts
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Take field trips to institutions that make monetary and fiscal policy
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Network with early-career professionals in research
University of Chicago (UChicago) Programming Highlights (Week 3: June 15-21)
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Exposes participants to leading researchers in quantitative social science, including finance, economics, accounting, behavioral science, and marketing
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Provides access to faculty at Booth as well as other University of Chicago departments
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Highlights an interdisciplinary approach to research rooted in Booth’s academic environment
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Designed to inspire participants to ask impactful research questions and explore pathways toward a research career
Online Course Programming Highlights (Weeks 4-9: June 22-July 29)
- Coursework taught by UChicago professors
- Evening classes allow participants to maintain full-time summer employment
- Participants work in groups to explore research questions
PREDOC Research Conference (July 30-31)
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Network with similarly interested students at every phase of the research journey from across the country
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Polish public speaking and presentation skills
Students who successfully complete EDE+ receive a stipend of $2,000, with basic travel, housing, and group activities covered for on-campus programming in Washington, D.C. and Chicago.
Application Cycle
The 2026 application cycle is now open and will close on February 16, 2026.
Read EDE+ Frequently Asked Questions
Application Eligibility
Students enrolled in an accredited, undergraduate degree-granting institution in the United States are eligible to apply. This program is open to students from all backgrounds. Participants must be 18 years old by the program start date, and the ideal applicant will be a college freshman or sophomore with an interest in learning more about the quantitative social sciences and with an aptitude for quantitative coursework. Prior participants in the event cannot reapply.
Successful applicants will:
- Have a strong interest in learning more about the quantitative social sciences
- Be enrolled in an accredited, undergraduate degree-granting program with freshman or sophomore status when applying
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
- Have taken some coursework (high school or college) in calculus, statistics, economics, or other quantitative fields
- Complete an online application by the deadline
Application Requirements
The application is now open and will close on February 16, 2026. Complete the following requirements by the deadline to be considered for a spot in the 2026 cohort:
- A questionnaire, with all required application questions marked with an asterisk
- Candidate statement response to the prompt: “Tell us about a time where you’ve demonstrated resilience and/or overcome adversity, and explain how that experience informs your approach to a pressing social issue you’re passionate about tackling in your studies or career."
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- A copy of your resume (1 page preferred). You can refer to this resume guide by UChicagoGrad, though we welcome any format or style
Ongoing Programming & Support
EDE+ provides participants ongoing opportunities to engage in a menu of research, networking, and programmatic offerings as they pursue opportunities that further their development and study of economics. Some of which include:
- Academic Year Programming. EDE+ offers wide-ranging workshops and programming to support alumni in their career exploration, including resume and mock interview workshops, meet-and-greets with early career research professionals and graduate students, and connecting with representatives from the public and private sectors.
- Networking Opportunities. The program fosters lasting connections among students, both within and across cohorts. Over the years, we are creating a broad network of EDE+ alumni who can connect over time.
“EDE+ is a fantastic opportunity for students to discover how research in economics and the quantitative social sciences has the power to change the world. Chicago Booth’s world-class faculty study such critical issues as climate change, inequality, healthcare, artificial intelligence, discrimination, and their research helps shape a better future for everyone. I am very excited about the opportunities that EDE+ and Booth will provide for students to pursue rewarding research careers, fostering new ideas and impactful research.”
— Pietro Veronesi, Deputy Dean for Faculty and Chicago Board of Trade Professor of Finance, Chicago Booth
With support from:
EDE+ Applications
The 2026 application cycle is now open and will close on February 16, 2026.