Pardee Fellows Program

A: You can expect to build strong skills in research, data analysis, and policy-focused forecasting, with a particular emphasis on using Pardee's International Futures (IFs) model to explore long-term, integrated development scenarios. You will receive structured, paid training and project work from Pardee faculty and researchers, helping you grow as an integrated, systems-focused thinker.

Much of your experience may come from internal work that keeps IFs robust and useful—working with datasets, updating model inputs, testing scenarios, and documenting methods and results. When there are active projects that align with your skills and partner needs, you may also contribute to external, policy-facing analyses for organizations such as international agencies or regional bodies. Together, these experiences are designed to be both intellectually rewarding and professionally useful as preparation for careers in international development, economics, government, or policy research.

A: As a Pardee Fellow, you can expect two main kinds of work: (1) internal infrastructure that supports the International Futures (IFs) modeling system, and (2) when projects are aligned with your skills and interests, external analysis for policy audiences.

Internal work focuses on keeping IFs robust and useful, typically involving cleaning and organizing datasets, updating model inputs and infrastructure, testing scenarios, and developing and updating user documentation. When there is a good match with project needs, you may also join teams contributing to external projects, such as comparing IFs with other forecasting tools, building and interpreting scenarios, and helping turn findings into figures, tables, or written sections for reports and briefings. Across both types of work, you will regularly use tools like Excel, pull results from IFs, and practice communicating concise, focused analysis and summaries.

A: Prior modeling experience is preferred but not required. Familiarity with topics related to the domains featured in IFs is helpful, but not required for the application. Over the course of the program, Fellows will receive training on the tool, along with complementary assignments to develop expertise through hands-on work with IFs, learning to analyze data, create visualizations, and contribute to high-impact research.

A: Must be a first-year graduate student with at least 18 months remaining in their academic program as of the start of the fall 2026 quarter.

A: Yes—on a competitive basis. The student selected as the 2026–27 Pardee Fellow will receive tuition support of up to $40,000 per year, if eligible, plus the possibility of additional hourly pay for time spent on training and project assignments. Current Pardee Fellows completing their fellowships in 2026–27 will continue to receive the tuition support committed when they joined the program—up to $10,000 per year for eligible students—and may also be considered for paid hourly work on training and assignments as opportunities arise and align with project needs. DU Jumpstart students are not eligible for tuition support. You must be formally admitted to your degree program before you can be considered for this award. After admission decisions are made, the pool of admitted students is reviewed by Pardee for Fellowship selection. See below for more application instructions.

A: This program is a two-year commitment. Rather than a fixed weekly load, the Fellowship is structured around a target of 10-20 paid research and training hours per week during the academic year. All Fellows are paid for formal Fellowship training sessions. Beyond that core, hours will fluctuate based on project needs, with periods of no active assignments and stretches when the full 20 hours are available. Fellows work closely with their supervisors to align this evolving workload with their academic schedules and goals, including around exams, internships, and other commitments. Fellows demonstrating strong performance may also be considered for additional paid hours over breaks and during the summer when there is active project work.

A: Thank you for your interest! We look forward to receiving applications from those who are passionate about making a meaningful impact in integrated assessment modeling, qualitative research, and policy engagement. Applications for the 2026-2027 Academic Year cohort open February 16, 2026. Please scroll to "Additional Information" for detailed instructions on eligibility, required materials, and how to submit your application.

A: IFs distills long-term change down to a set of rules that simulate the interaction of economies, societies, and the environment over long time horizons, making it possible to plan for future outcomes. IFs is the only open-source integrated assessment platform and forecasting tool that, in combination, (a) uses a hybrid approach of systems dynamics, econometrics, and other quantitative techniques; (b) incorporates and leverages over 5,000 historical series to analyze and forecast hundreds of interconnected, macro-level variables across human, social, and natural systems; and (c) includes forecasts for 188 countries in one-year time steps from 2022 through the end of this century and beyond.

IFs forecasts across 11 dynamically connected submodules: agriculture, demographics, economics, education, energy, environment, governance, health, human development, infrastructure, and international relations. By integrating these systems, IFs can simulate how changes in one system may ripple through all systems. Learn more.