Pre-Doctoral Training Opportunities

For those looking to gain more experience and exposure to business research, there are a broad range of opportunities available for those interested in doctoral education.

  • Introduction to Diversity in Doctoral Education and Scholarship (IDDEAS) Program – IDDEAS is a two-day program that introduces outstanding undergraduates to the field of business academia and research. The aim of IDDEAS is to create a diverse doctoral student environment and, in turn, a diverse faculty population. IDDEAS is hosted at IDDEAS @ WhartonIDDEAS @ Stanford and IDDEAS@Kellogg/Booth,
  • PhD Project – expansive network of supporters, sponsors and universities helps individuals pursue PhDs in business areas and become business professors who will mentor the next generation of leaders. Annual Conference – The PhD Project Conference is a 2-Day event that takes place annually, each November in Chicago. The conference provides a rare networking and information gathering opportunity for those underrepresented on college campuses interested in pursuing a business Ph.D. to become a business school professor.
  • Summer Undergraduates Mentored Research Program (SUMR) – The SUMR program is a 12 week paid summer program to prepare first generation and underrepresented minority undergraduates students to pursue PhD degrees in health services research.  SUMR is hosted by the Health Care Management Department of the Wharton School and the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics. For over 20 years, SUMR has helped inspire students to explore the fields of health services research, medicine, and academia.
  • Stanford GSB Research Fellow Program -This two-year fellowship is designed for individuals wanting to gain valuable training and experience toward a career in academic research before applying to a PhD program in business and related fields.
  • NYU Pre-Doctoral Program – The Stern Pre-Doctoral program is intended to prepare select students to apply to PhD programs in Business, at Stern or elsewhere. The Stern Pre-Doctoral program seeks to promote a diverse, scholarly environment and encourage promising individuals from under-represented or non-typical backgrounds (personal, academic, or employment) to enter the academic profession.
  • Pathways to Research and Doctoral Careers (PREDOC) – A consortium of universities and research institutions that aims to foster a talented, diverse, and inclusive population in the quantitative social sciences. Consortium members collaborate to prepare Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students for a potential academic career through predoctoral research programs: paid, full-time, post-baccalaureate research positions working directly for faculty, where recent graduates are mentored and prepared for careers in the academy, institutes of policy research, and industry.
  • The Michigan Ross Bridges to Doctoral Fellows Program – The Ross Bridges to Doctoral Fellows Program offers a 12-month, full-time certificate that prepares individuals who hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree to successfully transition into full-time doctoral studies. The program is made possible by the University of Michigan Rackham Merit Fellowship, which supports students with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and goals who desire pre-doctoral preparation.
  • American Economic Association  Summer and Scholarship Program– Intensive, 2-month residential program. AEASP offers talented undergraduates seriously considering post-graduate studies in economics, the opportunity to develop and solidify their math and other technical skills to enable them to successfully meet the high demands of academically challenging doctoral programs.
  • BYU Ph.D. Prep Program – BYU’s School of Accountancy offers a specialized PhD Prep Track as part of the Masters of Accountancy (MAcc) degree. The program is designed to prepare students to enroll in a Ph.D. program in accounting at another university after finishing their master’s degree.
  • Harvard GSAS Research Scholars -The GSAS Research Scholar Initiative is a non-degree granting post-baccalaureate program that provides mentored research and training for individuals interested in pursuing doctoral studies.
  • Harvard Program for Research in Markets and Organizations (PRIMO) – A 10-week summer residential community of undergraduates participating in research affiliated with HBS faculty. The Program seeks to create a diverse group of Fellows including but not limited to women and underrepresented minorities who are inspired by and are committed to pursuing excellence in business research.
  • Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early – Identification Program– SR-EIP is a fully paid summer internship that provides undergraduates with training and mentoring in the principles underlying the conduct of research and prepares them to pursue competitive applications to PhD or MD-PhD programs. SR-EIP offers closely mentored research experiences in the life and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities at research institutions across the country. Wharton is a host site of the SR-EIP. Interested applicants can learn more here. 
  • Pathways To Science – Browse 650+ different summer research experiences for undergrads interest in STEM fields.
  • Master’s in Science in Business Research  – The Master’s in Business Research (MSBR) at the Fox School of Business is a STEM-designated degree program that is designed to prepare students for PhD study. This one-of-a-kind program is designed such that MS students enroll in PhD courses alongside current PhD students and have the opportunity to learn from leading scholars.