Summer 2026 Research Fellowship Opportunity for Columbia Students | Lafayette Square Institute

I am writing to share two summer research fellowship opportunities with the Lafayette Square Institute (LSI) that may be of interest to your PhD in Economics doctoral students.

LSI is a nonpartisan data analytics and public policy platform that develops research and technology tools advancing economic mobility. Our work spans federal housing finance, renter wealth policy, employee ownership, and place-based economic data.

We are recruiting for two Summer 2026 Research Fellow positions:

1. Data and Policy Research Fellow: This fellow will support quantitative research on housing finance, economic mobility, and place-based policy. Responsibilities include data analysis, literature review, and contributing to policy briefs and reports.
2. Renter Wealth Research Fellow: This fellow will support LSI’s renter wealth initiative, examining how policy and financing structures can help renters build wealth. Responsibilities include research, data work, and supporting stakeholder engagement materials.

Key details for both positions:

– Duration: 10 to 12 weeks, Summer 2026

– Location: Remote with flexibility; Washington, D.C. preferred

– Compensation: Available on an unpaid basis for candidates with external funding (e.g., school fellowships, grants); paid compensation may be available for exceptional candidates

– Application: Resume, cover letter, and a writing or analytical work sample to deal@lafayettesquareinstitute.org

We would be grateful if you could share these opportunities with doctoral students who may be interested in applied policy research, housing finance, or economic mobility. Full position descriptions are attached.

Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to connect.

Best,
Laura