NBER Entrepreneurship Research Boot Camp 2021 - Call for Applicants

The NBER Entrepreneurship Working Group is hosting the 14th Entrepreneurship Research Boot Camp (ERBC). This intensive workshop provides an introduction into the leading research topics in the areas of the economics of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial finance. The workshop is sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

When: August 2-6 (Week I), 9-13 (Week II)

Where: To Be Held Virtually

Program: The program will feature a 3-hour lecture taught each day by an experienced and active researcher specializing in the topic of interest. In recent years, speakers have included Shai Bernstein (Stanford), Nick Bloom (Stanford), John Haltiwanger (Maryland), Yael Hochberg (Rice), Petra Moser (NYU), Bill Kerr (Harvard), Josh Lerner (Harvard), David Robinson (Duke), Rafaella Sadun (HBS), Antoinette Schoar (MIT) and Scott Stern (MIT).

For Whom: The boot camp is meant to promote research interest in the areas of entrepreneurship economics and/or entrepreneurial finance. It is particularly well suited for PhD students in strategy, economics and finance, who are either considering, or already doing research in these areas. The boot camp is primarily intended for PhD students with an interest in these areas of research. The minimum requirement is that (by the summer) participants will have completed their first year of PhD course work.

Participants are expected to carefully prepare for the workshop. In particular, they are expected to read a syllabus of over 50 papers prior to the boot camp.

Costs: The ERBC is generously supported by a grant from the Kauffman Foundation. Participation is free and restricted to admitted applicants – no auditors will be admitted.

Application: Applicants will be selected on a competitive basis. Each applicant should submit an application containing the following items:

  • A cover letter that includes complete contact information, as well as the name of the recommendation letter writer.
  • A Curriculum Vitae of the applicant, together with a list of all current and completed PhD courses.
  • A two-page essay that explains why the applicant wants to attend the boot camp. This should include a brief description of the applicant’s current and future research direction.
  • One letter of recommendation from the applicant’s current or former PhD advisor.

Letters of recommendation should be short (no more than 2 pages). They will be treated confidentially and can be sent separately from the applicants’ application.

The application package should be assembled into a single pdf and uploaded here. (Please use your name for topic of work)

If the letter of recommendation needs to be sent separately, please email it to Brett Maranjian at maranjian@nber.org and she will add it to your application package.

The application deadline is Friday, March 26, 2021. Acceptance decisions will be made in early May.

Accepted participants will be expected to come prepared by reading a syllabus of over 50 papers prior to the beginning of the ERBC.

For any questions concerning academic matters, please contact the academic coordinator:
David T. Robinson
Fuqua School of Business
Duke University
100 Fuqua Drive
Durham, NC
USA
davidr@duke.edu