Research Opportunities
Getting involved in research is a great way to expand your undergraduate economics experience, as you will have the opportunity to learn about the frontier of human knowledge while working with faculty or graduate students. Undergraduate research permits students to apply classroom learning to new situations, to obtain additional disciplinary skills, and to develop practical hands-on knowledge.
Faculty and PhD students in the Department of Economics involve undergraduate students in their research a variety of ways. Projects can include gathering and analysis of economic data, conducting literature surveys, creating charts and graphs, coding, and checking mathematical calculations. Experience with data analysis software is helpful, but not always required.
In addition to conducting undergraduate research within our department, Economics Majors also conduct research with faculty from other academic departments and at off-campus internships. See below for other undergraduate research opportunities at Cornell.
Recommended skills: If you are interested in getting involved in research, you should complete your core economics classes (Econ 3030, Econ 3040, Econ 3110 or 3130, and Econ 3120 or 3140) as early as possible, as having taken these courses is a requirement for many positions. In addition, it helps if you have skills in Stata, R, and Python. . . where can you get these skills?
Hatfield Undergraduate Research Assistant Program
The Economics Department's Hatfield Program is supported by the Robert S. Hatfield Fund for Economic Education. The Hatfield Fund is used to enhance undergraduates' understanding of applied economics in general and the benefits and problems of the free market system.
Available Hatfield Projects
Opportunities will be emailed to the Economics majors listserv as they arise.
Other Research Opportunity Resources
Economics student researcher positions are limited in number and competitive, so consider looking elsewhere as well. The campus has many avenues for pursuing research.
- If you are just starting to look for a research opportunity, you might consider starting with the College of Arts & Sciences. You may also speak with your Advising Dean to help narrow down your interests. This page also details the Einhorn Grant and Undergraduate Research Fund.
- The Nexus Scholars Program connects undergraduate students in Arts and Sciences to faculty doing all kinds of research include Economics. The program pays students to work full-time for 8 weeks every summer in Ithaca. Applications open in every Fall.
- The Labor Dynamics Institute regularly hires undergraduate research assistants in August, January, and May.
- The Economics Education Lab hires Nexus scholars each summer and also involves students during the academic year.
- Consider off-campus opportunities such as a summer program or an internship with Cornell In Washington.
- Check out Cornell's Undergraduate Research Page to find opportunities across campus.
- Visit the Student Employment Database to view available research opportunities on and off-campus.
- View the listing of Cornell’s 150 centers, institutes, laboratories and programs that may have opportunities.