Call for Spring 2026 Fellowship on Ecuador Refugee Research

Overview

The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) is inviting one scholar from Ecuador to participate in a four-month quantitative research fellowship at UC Berkeley, to be completed during the Spring 2026 academic semester (January-May 2026). Preference will be given to applicants currently based in Ecuador who have the lived experience of forced displacement (see detailed in the full RFA here). The fellowship will be focused on developing the research skills to evaluate the effectiveness of programs that use a “two-generation” approach—supporting both children and their caregivers— to improve the lives and livelihoods of refugees, migrants, and host community families. Fellows will work on their own research study, audit coursework at UC Berkeley, and receive mentorship from faculty members.

For this track, we will prioritize fellows from Ecuador who have experienced forced displacement, and are interested in conducting research in Ecuador. Apply here by November 9th.

During the fellowship, visiting researchers will:

Audit courses at UC Berkeley, including those covering topics such as global development, migration and forced displacement, impact evaluation, economics, and other topics relevant to the scholar;
Develop a new project OR work on an existing research project focused on forced displacement in Ecuador with mentorship from a CEGA affiliate with relevant subject matter and geographic expertise/interests;
Be matched with a peer PhD partner for collaboration and (mutual) feedback;
Participate in tailored, hands-on modules on research transparency and reproducibility, research communication skills, qualitative data collection and analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, data science, and other topics of special interest;
Engage in supplementary skills training, such as leadership, communications, public speaking, writing and language translation, navigating the publication process, and translating research for non-academic audiences;
Visit, network, and present at nearby universities, including Stanford University, UC Davis, or UC Santa Cruz;
Design rigorous research curricula and learning resources that can be used for instruction at their home institutions (academic and non-academic).

CEGA will cover the costs of room and board in Berkeley, health insurance, a stipend, visa fees, and round-trip economy airfare for selected fellows. Please note that CEGA does not have the funds to provide financial support for spouses or other family members.

Post-Fellowship Support

Upon completing the fellowship, scholars are expected to return to a university or research institute in their home country or region, and assume a leading role in promoting the use of rigorous evidence to inform policy.

After successful completion of the fellowship, fellows will receive:

A “Catalyst” grant to train colleagues and students at their home institutions in rigorous research methods, using case studies focused on forced displacement.
Sponsorship to attend a gathering of researchers and evidence practitioners (either CEGA’s annual Africa Evidence Summit, or another dissemination event. These events will provide fellows with the opportunity to present research and network with scholars and partners.
Either 1) a USD $10,000 pilot grant to continue working on a research project developed while at UC Berkeley, or 2) a 4-month, paid research placement at a partner organization (such as the Center for Global Development or J-PAL), or refugee-led organization (RLO) needing research support. Please indicate your initial preference in the application form (this can be changed after participant selection).
Access to funding for publication fees, as needed.

Eligibility

Please carefully consult the criteria below. For the Fellowship, applicants must:

Be fluent in English.
Be born and raised in Ecuador, having completed (at least) up to secondary school in the country. Preference will be given to applicants currently based in Ecuador, although applicants from Ecuador but living outside the country will be considered.
We will give preference to individuals with lived experience of displacement, including refugees, internally displaced peoples (IDPs), asylum seekers, returned refugees, returned IDPs, individuals under UNHCR’s statelessness mandate, members of host communities, and other groups or persons of concern to UNHCR (UNHCR). Note that citizenship will not be considered in determining eligibility for this fellowship.
Have completed a PhD within the last 8 years, or be enrolled in a PhD program in economics, statistics, epidemiology/public health, migration studies, or another social science discipline. We will consider candidates who have completed a Masters degree and are considering a PhD, in exceptional cases only. Please state your intent to pursue a PhD in your personal statement, or explain why the Masters is the terminal degree in your field;
Have a current affiliation with a research institution, university or other research organization in South America, preferably one that supports policy-relevant, quantitative social science research; and
Plan to return to a university or research institute in Ecuador or in the region after the fellowship.

Women and people with a lived experience of forced displacement are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please direct any questions about eligibility to Amy Shipow <amyshipow@berkeley.edu>.

Application Process

To respond to this RFA, please submit the following information and documents through this Submittable portal by Sunday, November 9th, at 5 pm GMT:

Personal Statement via a 2-minute video: In this video, please describe your personal motivations for applying to this fellowship. Of all fellowships available to you, why are you interested in this one and why now in your career? What do you hope to accomplish during the semester and beyond? Don’t worry too much about video quality – this can be recorded on your phone! We want to get a sense of who you are and how you describe yourself.
Research Plan (2 pages): Please describe the research topic related to forced displacement that you would like to pursue during the fellowship. This can either be a proposal for a) a new research study OR b) continued work on an existing study, especially in preparation for publication. The research topic should be primarily quantitative and use impact evaluation methods (experimental or quasi-experimental).
1. Refer to Appendix A “Instructions for Research Proposal” and Appendix B “Research Proposal Example” in the RFA.
2. Please ensure your research proposal is on Displacement and focus on evaluating programs that use a “two-generation” approach which supports refugee and migrant children and their caregivers in Ecuador.
Curriculum Vitae/Resume
Transcript of coursework completed within at least the last 5 years (i.e. your scores or grades from university courses). A scanned copy is acceptable.
Evidence of Leave Approval from the applicant’s supervisor or department chair demonstrating support and certifying that, if the applicant is selected, he/she will be able to take a 4-month leave of absence. A signed letter will suffice.
Contact Information for a Reference (1 required): Contact information for a supervisor who can speak to the applicant’s research capacity, quantitative skills, and qualifications for the Special Call.
Optional Attachments: Please attach any supporting documents of your choosing (working papers, other research documentation, etc). This is not required.

SUBMIT APPLICATION MATERIALS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Do I need to hold a Ph.D. to apply for the CEGA fellowship program?

No. Applicants to the CEGA Visiting Fellowship must have completed at minimum a Master’s degree in economics, statistics, epidemiology/public health, or another social science discipline.

Can I apply if I completed my PhD more than 8 years ago?

The requirement for candidates to have completed their PhD less than 8 years ago allows us to gauge which candidates are early career researchers. If you completed your PhD more than 8 years ago, but believe you can benefit from this fellowship, please explain this in your personal statement. Please note that preference will be given to candidates who are earlier on in their academic careers.

Can applicants who are not pursuing a degree in economics apply?

We accept applicants from all social science disciplines. We encourage you to review the profiles of previous CEGA fellows to gain insight into the diverse topics they have explored and the varied academic backgrounds they represent.

My project is in the early stages and I have plans for future data collection. Can I still apply?

We will accept candidates with strong ideas and research proposals, whether the project is in early or advanced stages. Some fellows may be refining their research design and planning to collect data through either primary or secondary sources; while other fellows may be analyzing data and working on a draft paper. We will tailor the fellowship’s deliverables according to the stage of the project.

Can my research proposal use purely qualitative methods?

While we support a plurality of methods and have qualitative research training for our Fellows, proposals must emphasize rigorous quantitative social science methods. We prefer methodologies that can demonstrate causality (including but not limited to RCTs, Difference-in-Differences, and Regression Discontinuity Designs). We also consider mixed-methods approaches that combine quantitative and qualitative techniques, as long as they contribute to rigorous and actionable research findings.

Must my research proposal align with my current PhD research?

No, your research proposal does not need to align with your current PhD topic. However, if you would prefer, your research proposal can be the same as your PhD research as long as your submission is formatted akin to this template and employs a quantitative social science method.

What criteria are considered in the selection process?

The review committee will look for demonstrated knowledge of quantitative research and familiarity with impact evaluation methods, commitment to evidence-informed policy, and commitment to building the capacity of LMIC researchers and/or institutions. The review committee will also note your motivations for the fellowship and alignment with your career goals.

Do I need to secure my own housing and flights?

If you are selected for the fellowship, CEGA staff will secure housing on your behalf at the International House at UC Berkeley. For flights, you will have the opportunity to select your preferred itinerary and CEGA will make the booking for you as well as pay for your flights.

Can I bring my family with me?

We understand that it can be difficult to be far from family. In certain exceptional instances, it is possible to bring family members, but the fellow will be responsible for all their costs (including visas, flights, accommodation, health insurance, food, etc).

Does the fellowship program provide a salary?

The fellowship covers candidates’ roundtrip flights, accommodation, meals, visa fees and health insurance for the duration of the fellowship period. In addition, fellows receive a monetary stipend for miscellaneous expenses, and may be sponsored to visit other university campuses. However, the fellowship does not provide a salary for fellows’ time. Fellows will need to make arrangements with their university/organization to take leave with or without pay for the duration of the fellowship.

What is CEGA’s policy on travel to present at conferences during the resident fellowship?

We are very supportive of fellows attending conferences where they’ve been selected to present their research, as it aligns with their professional development and the goals of the fellowship! It is essential to let CEGA program staff know as soon as possible about this opportunity. If you are selected to present during the fellowship, we ask that you follow the following guidelines:

Inform CEGA staff as soon as this is a potential possibility, to ensure the dates do not conflict with program activities and will not affect your J-1 visa (international conferences may not be possible to present on your visa).
Confirm expenses are covered by the conference organization or yourself (CEGA does not have additional resources to support this during the fellowship).

Separately, CEGA organizes visits to other campuses, where fellows may have the opportunity to present, in addition to the final presentation fellows will make at the end of their fellowship.

Do fellows continue to be engaged with CEGA following the fellowship?

Yes! CEGA maintains relationships with alumni of the fellowship program. In addition to being eligible for funding opportunities as specified above, we share relevant research opportunities or collaborations, tap fellows’ expertise for new projects and follow up on past projects. We hope that fellows will remain closely connected to other alumni, share opportunities from their institutions/networks, collaborate on projects, and offer expertise to CEGA as needed. There are also reporting requirements for pilot and catalyst grants funded by CEGA that fellows are expected to adhere to.

Can you accommodate individuals with disabilities?

Absolutely! UC Berkeley has a Disabled Students Program with a robust range of support services and campus resources. We are committed to providing an accessible program.

Is there an age limit to apply for this fellowship?

No, there is no age limit to apply for the fellowship.