The Department of Economics annually awards several prizes to senior majors and 7 summer research prizes to underclassmen. Brief descriptions and eligibility information for each prize follows below. More information about the prizes including past winners is posted on the Honors and Prizes page of our website.
Google Form
To apply for any of these prizes, you must complete the google form by Friday, April 17:
You must be logged into your LionMail account to access the form.
Sanford S. Parker Prize
- The Parker prize is a cash prize that is awarded to a graduating CC student who majored, joint majored or concentrated in economics that is planning on attending graduate school in economics.
- Any student that intends to pursue a Ph.D. in economics within two years of graduation is eligible. However, the department may give preference to students that will be attending graduate school in the year following graduation.
- On the google form, you will include information about your post-graduation plans. The form is due on April 17.
GS Dean’s Prize in Economics
- The GS Dean’s Prize in Economics is a cash prize that is awarded to a GS student who majored, joint majored or concentrated in economics.
- Preference is given to students intending to pursue a PhD in economics but is open to all GS majors.
- On the google form, you will include information about your post-graduation plans. The form is due on April 17.
David Estabrook Romine Prizes
- The two Romine Prizes are cash prizes that are awarded annually to two members of the graduating class (CC or GS) who majored or joint majored in economics. One prize is awarded to the student who wrote the best paper in a senior seminar. The other prize is awarded to the student who wrote the best senior thesis.
- Senior Seminar Prize
- Students who have taken their senior seminar in either the fall or spring semester of the current academic year are eligible for the award for best paper in a senior seminar.
- To be considered for this prize you should first speak with (or contact) the instructor of your senior seminar regarding a nomination for the award.
- If your instructor supports your nomination, then you must send a PDF of your paper to Sunil Gulati skg21@columbia.edu with a note indicating that you would like to be considered for a prize and the name of your seminar instructor. He will contact your instructor directly.
- If you took your senior seminar in the FALL then you must submit your paper no later than Friday, April 3.
- If you are currently taking your seminar this SPRING, then you must submit a polished draft of the paper no later than Friday, April 24. The deadline is imposed by the college and no late papers will be accepted.
- You must also complete the google form by Friday, April 17
- Senior Thesis Prize
- All students that write a senior honors thesis are automatically nominated for the Romine prize. You do not need to apply.
Parker Prize Summer Research and GS Summer Research Prizes
- The Department of Economics provides financial support for undergraduates who take unpaid summer internships that focus on research. By introducing students to original research, a summer internship can provide the foundation for an honors thesis or develop an interest in pursuing a graduate degree.
- Students considering writing a senior thesis next year, can apply for support to work on their thesis project under the supervision of their prospective thesis adviser.
- We are looking to support up to 5 CC underclassmen and 2 GS underclassmen (juniors preferred but open to sophomores as well). We will provide each student with a stipend of $5000.
- To apply for this prize, you must be a declared economics major, financial economics major or joint major.
- On the google form due on April 17, you will be asked to upload a document containing the following information
- Name and UNI
- Name of the faculty member supervising your work or the organization you will be working with.
- A brief (one page) essay describing the internship, learning objectives, and tasks that you will undertake.
- Employer Verification (i.e. a letter or email showing that you have been offered the position or that the faculty member is willing to supervise your work).
- This money is meant to support research so the internship must be research in nature and cannot focus on office or clerical tasks.
- Preference will be given to students working with Columbia University faculty (the faculty need not be in the Economics Department) but others working with faculty outside the department or working at outside organizations are eligible.
Good Luck
Susan Elmes
DUS Department of Economics
Columbia University
