Stanford university Doctoral Fellowship Program 2026

The Initiative for Financial Decision-Making (IFDM) at Stanford University supports research on human behavior, financial decision-making, and policy-relevant economic and social science. IFDM brings together researchers from multiple disciplines to explore how individuals and societies make financial choices, plan for the future, and respond to economic uncertainty.

As part of its mandate, IFDM periodically invites applications for postdoctoral fellow positions, offering a structured environment for early-career researchers to develop and pursue their own research agendas within the broad field of financial decision-making. (Initiative for Financial Decision-Making)

What the Fellowship Offers & Who Should Apply

The postdoctoral fellowship at IFDM is geared toward candidates who:

• Have recently completed a PhD (or equivalent) in economics, behavioral economics, finance, psychology, public policy, sociology, or other social science disciplines with strong quantitative or behavioral research components.
• Are interested in studying financial behavior, decision-making under uncertainty, savings/investment choices, risk tolerance, inequality, or related economic and social issues — ideally with policy or empirical relevance.
• Wish to design and execute an independent research project, while benefiting from Stanford’s resources (faculty, data, mentoring, institutional support).

By joining IFDM as a postdoctoral fellow, you get:

• Access to Stanford’s academic environment — including seminars, interdisciplinary collaborations, and data/resources relevant to financial decision-making research. (Initiative for Financial Decision-Making)
• Opportunity to develop a research program that may influence academic discourse, public policy, or social-economic interventions relating to financial behavior.
• A position within Stanford’s postdoctoral community — meaning you receive at least the standard postdoc salary or stipend with associated benefits, as per university policy for postdoctoral appointments. (postdocs.stanford.edu)

 Application Process & What to Prepare

If you plan to apply for the IFDM Postdoctoral Fellowship, you should prepare:

• A research proposal — clearly stating your research question(s), methodology, expected contribution, and link to financial decision-making/behavioral economics themes.
• A curriculum vitae (CV/Resume) — with your academic background, publications or working papers (if any), quantitative or qualitative skills, and relevant experience.
• Recommendation letters — preferably from your PhD supervisor or academic referees familiar with your research capabilities and potential for independent work.
• Any required supporting documents (transcripts, evidence of PhD completion, statement of purpose, etc.) as per Stanford’s postdoc application guidelines.

It is beneficial to identify or propose potential faculty sponsors or collaborators at Stanford whose research interests align with your own, though IFDM may also help with mentorship matching.

 Why This Fellowship Matters

• Interdisciplinary exposure: Because IFDM is at the intersection of economics, psychology, policy, and social sciences — the fellowship offers a broad, interdisciplinary platform rather than narrow departmental constraints.
• Real-world relevance: Research in financial decision-making has direct implications for economic policy, public welfare, social inequality, financial regulation and human well-being. Your work can influence both theory and practice.
• Strong academic environment: Being at Stanford, you have access to top faculty, data resources, seminar series, and a vibrant research community.
• Career foundation: A postdoc at IFDM can be a strong stepping stone — publishing papers, building networks, and gaining visibility in both academic and policy spheres.