Visiting Scholar program overview
The Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute is a research initiative housed within the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. It supports the Federal Reserve’s mandate to ensure maximum employment by conducting and promoting research into how to ensure the opportunity for participation in an inclusive economy for all Americans. Participants selected for the Institute’s Visiting Scholar program are invited to a residency at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis to pursue their research and work on projects related to the Institute's mission of increasing economic opportunity and inclusive growth.
Multiple Visiting Scholar positions are available. Dates and duration of visits are flexible, but most scholars visit for one of the following periods: a 9-month academic year,* a 2-4 month term, or a brief 1-3 week visit. The program typically runs from September 1 through June 30, though summer visits are also an option. Visits are expected to be onsite in Minneapolis. All career levels are welcome and encouraged to apply.
Scholars are competitively compensated and receive office space at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, where scholars are supported by top-tier administrative staff and research analysts as available. This includes assistance in gaining access to and proficiency with limited-access Federal Reserve System datasets relevant to the Institute’s mission as well as access to the Bank’s information services facility.
Eligibility and guidelines
All applicants must hold a Ph.D. in the social sciences as of their visit start date, with a demonstrated ability to conduct high-level, peer-reviewed scholarly research.
Consideration for visa support is limited to accepted applicants with nine-month academic year terms.
Information about the Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute may be found at: https://minneapolisfed.org/institute
Application process
- Follow instructions to create a candidate account and complete the application form, available here.
- Attach and submit an up-to-date CV within the candidate portal. Candidates who will be 2 years or less after Ph.D. completion at the start of their visit should include the names of 3 references on the CV.
- Attach and submit a brief research proposal through the candidate portal describing the project or projects to be undertaken while in residence at the Institute. This should be no more than 2 pages, single spaced, with standard 11- or 12-point font and 1-inch margins—excluding up to 2 pages of references and figures/tables. Supplementary materials such as papers and recommendations are not accepted.
Apply for the 2025-2026 program ›
Selection process
All applications undergo an initial internal screening to assess the strength and relevance of the research proposal. The applications that pass the internal screening are sent to Institute leadership and reviewed for final decisions.
Deadline
Applications for residence during the 2025-2026 academic year will be accepted until 11:59 pm CT on January 17, 2025. Decisions will be made by the end of March.
* Long-term visitors (9 months or more) who are hired as Federal Reserve Bank employees require access to confidential supervisory information and/or FOMC information, which is limited to "Protected Individuals" as defined in U.S. federal immigration law. Protected Individuals include, but are not limited to, U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents who either are not yet eligible to apply for naturalization or who have applied for naturalization within the requisite timeframe. Candidates who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents may be eligible for the information access required for this position if they sign a declaration of intent to become a U.S. citizen and meet other additional eligibility requirements. In addition, all candidates must undergo applicable background checks and comply with all applicable information handling rules, and all non-U.S. citizens must sign a declaration of intent to become a U.S. citizen and pursue a path to citizenship. These requirements do not apply to short-term consultant arrangements (visits of less than 9 months).
The Institute is committed to providing a work environment in which diversity is embraced and all employees are respected and valued. We define diversity as all the visible and not-so-visible ways in which people differ, including race, age, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical abilities, and the countless human traits, beliefs, and experiences that make us unique.