SUMMARY:
Founded in 2019, the Research In Color Foundation (Research in Color® or RIC) is a Forbes honored, 501c(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to increasing the number and improving the retention of Ph.D. scholars of color in economics and economics-adjacent disciplines, and amplifying meaningful economic and policy research on communities of color. RIC does this by matching historically excluded scholars looking to pursue doctoral degrees in these fields with seasoned economists and quantitative social scientists who serve as mentors. Besides identifying research ideas, and exploring additional needs before embarking on a Ph.D. program, each mentor-mentee pair will have a chance to work together on an 8-month long independent research project of the mentees choosing. RIC hopes that this not only gives the mentee a flavor of what to expect in a Ph.D. program, but sets the foundation for potential research interests to be carried over into their doctoral work. RIC plans to meet the additional needs of the mentees such as application costs (including test registration, preparation and application fees), which add up to a substantial amount that can be prohibitive for many students. Lastly, RIC offers mentees an opportunity to present their research projects to their mentors and other high-level academics at our annual conference. This event is slated for the second week of August each year. The Conference section of our site will be updated with relevant details as they are confirmed.
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PROBLEM:
Economics is a sector-spanning toolkit whose theories and analysis directly influence policies across healthcare, education, criminal justice, and beyond. Despite this far-reaching influence, economics as a discipline does not represent the spectrum of identities and viewpoints that comprise the societies it impacts, and there continues to be a dearth of women, and racial and ethnic minorities in critical economic decision-making positions.
Excluding the perspectives of people from marginalized groups restricts the range of economic insights available for the production of knowledge and can weaken the validity of the field’s findings. This exclusion is reflected in, and perpetuated by, economic and political disparities observed in everyday life (Neville, 2016).
GOAL:
Our goal is to increase the number and improve the retention of Black Ph.D. students and PhD students of color in economics and economics-adjacent disciplines, while amplifying meaningful economic and policy research on communities of color by prospective Ph.D. students of color.
Research In Color seeks to intervene in the future of the economics profession in order to achieve a more inclusive field and economically inclusive world.
SOLUTION:
To address our goal of increasing the number of historically excluded PhD students in economics and economics-adjacent disciplines, Research in Color matches historically excluded scholars with established economists in an eight-month customized mentorship program to prepare them for a doctoral degree or a career in economics. RIC provides one-on-one mentor training and eight skill-building workshops for mentees. Mentees improve their writing, coding, data science, and statistical skills through these monthly workshops to thrive in high-demand economics and economic-related careers. Research in Color also offers individualized professional development help, interview preparation, coding assistance, and general advising on the graduate research process and career experiences.
To address our goal of amplifying meaningful economic and policy research on communities most important to prospective Ph.D. students of color, each mentorship cohort culminates with an annual conference where mentees present their independent research projects to an audience of approximately 150 economics industry professionals and academic scholars.
To address our goal of improving the retention of Black scholars and scholars of color in economics, after completion of the mentorship program, each mentees is provided a 1000 USD scholarship to help with PhD application costs. Additionally, each mentee that goes on to start a PhD in economics or an economics-adjacent field, is awarded a 2500 USD first-year fellowship to cover costs related to moving, housing, school supplies and the like.
CAMPAIGN:
Our social media campaign #PaintTheProfession seeks to highlight important research done by prospective Ph.D. students of color on communities of color. These are the stories of the next generation of economists and these will be our future models of success.
Follow @researchincolor on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook to hear more fresh perspectives from these future academic, industry, and policy economists and join us as we #PaintTheProfession!
FUTURE:
The future of The Research In Color Foundation will align with our three RIC Core Tenets and Values:
Commitment to leveling the playing field
Duty to promote inclusive research through increasing diversity of experiences and diversity of thought
Aspire to reduce the intellectual and financial barriers for Black people and people of color pursuing economics and economics-adjacent careers