LIDE, the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Ecuador, and DataCamp Donates invite you to participate in the LIDE Young Researchers Fellowship program.

About the program

Objective

The LIDE Young Researchers Fellowship is a scholarship to study quantitative research and social sciences. The program aims to train the new generation of social scientists through education in economics and public policy (health, education, employment, etc.). We seek to open pathways for motivated students toward international graduate education by providing the most important research skills, promoting academic inclusion from disadvantaged communities.

This program is part of the inclusion, social responsibility, and economic strengthening projects funded by the U.S. Diplomatic Mission.

Program contents

Quantitative Research

Learn about the theory and practice of the most important methods for conducting quantitative research in social sciences. This will include modules on software tools for data analysis such as R and Stata, as well as statistical methods, causal inference, field research, public policy, etc.

Academic Writing

Academic writing is fundamental for effectively communicating ideas and findings in the social sciences. The program will cover writing scientific papers, citation styles, bibliography management software, etc. The learning will be practical: students will prepare a high-level research paper with the support of mentors with international academic experience.

International Graduate Admissions in Social Sciences

Admissions to international graduate programs are highly competitive. The Young Researchers Fellowship will prepare students to improve their chances of studying abroad with workshops on preparing academic CVs, motivation essays, application deadlines, and guidance on obtaining funding, among other things. Additionally, the Laboratory will cover 100% of the cost of the TOEFL exam for applicants.

Research Dissemination

The communication and dissemination of research results in outreach journals and conferences is a crucial skill for a successful scientist. The program will cover technical and soft skills aimed at presenting research results, including data visualization, oral presentations, collaboration, and teamwork.

Program schedule

The program is remote, lasting eight months from May to December 2024. Through synchronous training sessions and pairing with expert mentors, participants will learn key social research skills. Simultaneously, mentors and instructors will guide participants in creating a high-quality short research paper that can be used as input for applying to graduate programs abroad. The paper may also be published on our quantitative blog, El Quantificador. As research work hours are generated, the Young Researchers Fellowship may be validated as pre-professional practice hours at the student’s university, if necessary.

The program will be bilingual, in English and Spanish. Study materials for the TOEFL exam will be provided, and LIDE will fund the exam fee when the student decides to take it. To promote learning programming skills applied to research, students will have free access to DataCamp, as part of our alliance with DataCamp Donates.

Steps to apply

1. Fill out the application form here and submit the required documents by May 1, 2024. https://forms.gle/zGkT96PHXd1QPBFX9

2. Competency Exam: Pre-selected candidates will take a competency exam in mid-May.

3. Interviews: The best candidates will be interviewed via Zoom. Winners will be announced at the end of May.

4. Synchronous classes will begin in early June 2024.

Student Profile

The program is aimed at young people who:

• Have obtained an undergraduate degree from an Ecuadorian university in the last 4 years, or are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at an Ecuadorian university.
• Show a clear interest in pursuing graduate studies in social sciences. Do not have a master’s or doctoral degree.
• Have some knowledge of English.
• Have a monthly family income below the national average.
• Demonstrate a high academic level, as indicated by their academic record.

We are committed to supporting inclusion by actively seeking to admit women and individuals from marginalized communities, including minorities (black and indigenous populations), people with disabilities, and members of the LGBT community.

Application materials

1. Fill out the application form.

2. Academic Record: Upload your updated academic record (in PDF format). This can be an unofficial record downloaded from your educational institution’s website.

3. A Curriculum Vitae (CV)

We recommend following an academic CV template, like this one. It is not necessary to have work or academic experience to apply; the important thing is to have a current, clean, and well-organized CV.

4. A Recommendation Letter from a former professor or employer.

The recommendation letter should demonstrate your skills to the Scholarship Committee, preferably in the academic field. The person writing this letter should be someone who knows you well in an academic context, such as a professor or thesis advisor, although a reference from an employer is also allowed. It is important to request this letter well in advance to avoid any issues with the document submission deadlines. Recommendation letters must be sent directly by the recommender, not the student, to the Scholarship Committee at becas@laboratoriolide.org. Please note that applications without a recommendation letter will not be considered for evaluation. Your recommender can follow this guide for their letter. The subject of the email from the recommender to the Scholarship Committee should be the applicant’s last name and first name followed by “Fellowship-LIDE.” The letter should preferably be sent as a PDF attached to the email.

5. A Motivation Letter

This is a letter explaining your reasons for participating in the LIDE Young Researchers Fellowship. It is important to start early and follow a clear structure. Consider the following questions: (a) What are your academic goals for the next five years? (b) What qualities or experiences have contributed to your personal, academic, or professional development and have prepared you for this program? (c) What social themes or research questions intrigue and excite you?

The letter should be a maximum of two pages, to be submitted in PDF format through the application form.

6. Optional: Provide a sample of individual written work (essay, research paper, code repository, etc.).

Upload an academic work such as your undergraduate thesis or a paper you’ve prepared for a class or company (if allowed). This could be an essay, thesis, individual project, code repository, etc. A good academic work should demonstrate your understanding of the topic, proper use of research methods, ability to communicate ideas clearly and coherently, supported by relevant evidence and properly cited, and appropriate handling of data if applicable. There is no page limit for this work.

7. Optional: Provide a socioeconomic condition letter.

This letter should detail any important information about you or your socioeconomic situation that could add value to your application. We particularly encourage individuals from low-income backgrounds, Afro-Ecuadorians, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, single mothers, and members of the LGBT community to submit a socioeconomic condition letter. The letter should be a maximum of one page, to be submitted in PDF format through the application form.

FAQs

(1) There are one or more requirements I don’t meet. Should I apply?

The Scholarship Committee of the Laboratory has made exceptions to some application requirements in exceptional cases where the applicant demonstrates high potential for the program. If you have a strong interest in applying, we encourage you to do so and explain your situation in the motivation and socioeconomic condition essays. (2) Is the scholarship full or partial? What does the scholarship cover?

This program is a full scholarship. Students will not have to make any payments from the start of the program until its completion. Additionally, the Laboratory will cover the cost of a TOEFL exam for admitted students.

(3) Is this program registered with SENESCYT?

No, this program does not provide a degree recognized by SENESCYT. At the end of the program, a certificate will be issued indicating the student’s completion. If necessary, pre-professional practice hours may be recognized between LIDE and the student’s educational institution.

(4) Is it a problem if I don’t have an undergraduate degree in social sciences?

No. The program is open to students from any undergraduate field. However, it’s important that the student has an interest in social sciences and quantitative research. Otherwise, the student may not fully benefit from the program, but exceptions can be considered. (See question 11).

(5) What previous experience do I need?

None. Just curiosity about social issues and an interest in quantitative research, as well as the motivation to pursue an academic career in social sciences.

(6) What level of English do I need to apply for the program?

We have not set a minimum English level for applicants, but the more English you know, the better. This is because academic materials are often in English. We believe an intermediate level (B1 or B2) would be ideal, but we encourage all interested individuals to apply, regardless of their English level.

(7) I asked a professor or work supervisor to write my recommendation letter, and they said I should write it myself and they will sign it. Is this allowed?

This practice is common but not ideal. Consider asking someone else to write the recommendation letter, as it will be of better quality and more informative for the Scholarship Committee.

(8) What is the competency exam like? What do I need to know?

The exam evaluates your mathematical skills as well as your writing abilities, with a focus on research in social sciences. The test consists of 20 questions on mathematical logic and basic secondary school mathematics (arithmetic, algebra, and basic probability), and 5 questions based on a reading. Below, you will find a practice exam to help you familiarize yourself with the test format and prepare.

(9) What is the duration of the program? What time will the classes be held? What time commitment is required?

The program will last eight months, starting in May 2024. The synchronous classes will be scheduled from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, Monday to Thursday, during the first four or five months of the program. In the remaining period, students will have less intensive synchronous classes at similar times, as well as meetings with their mentors and their individual research work, graduate program searches, among others. We recommend planning your time to dedicate 20 to 30 hours per week to the program.

(10) Who are the mentors assigned to the program?

The mentors assigned will be early-career academics who have shown interest in contributing to the scientific community by supporting students from various fields to help them gain admission to international graduate programs. These individuals have already gone through highly competitive selection processes for international graduate programs, so they are qualified to provide guidance on these matters.

(11) What types of graduate programs will the program help me apply to?

The Young Researchers Fellowship program is designed to provide training in academic research in social sciences, so it prepares individuals interested in pursuing master’s and/or doctoral degrees focused on research in economics, political science, public policy, public health, anthropology, sociology, demography, applied statistics, psychology, or other social sciences. Individuals seeking to prepare for professional graduate programs in business administration (MBA), finance, medicine, engineering, and other fields outside of social sciences will not benefit as much from this program. If you have doubts about whether this program is suitable for you, we recommend writing to us at becas@laboratoriolide.org or attending a virtual information session.

(12) Will I be guaranteed admission to an international graduate program after completing the fellowship?

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee anything upon completing the program, as admissions to international graduate programs are highly competitive. However, we offer workshops on creating academic CVs, mock interviews for doctoral programs, and other tools to improve our students' profiles in international graduate selection processes.

(13) When should I apply to international graduate programs once the fellowship is completed?

Only you can answer this question, based on your knowledge and how comfortable you feel with your graduate application materials. We do not set a time limit for our students to apply to graduate programs, but our goal would be for them to do so within three years after completing our program.

(14) Is it mandatory to take the TOEFL exam if I am selected? When should I take it?

It is not mandatory to take the TOEFL exam for fellowship winners, but we recommend all our students do so, as many international graduate programs will require an English proficiency exam as a basic requirement. If you decide to take the exam, it is mandatory for the student to request that the Laboratory register them for an exam date within the fellowship duration. Please note that the TOEFL exam allows you to register for a date up to six months after registration, and the results are valid for up to two years.

(15) Besides graduate programs, what else does this program prepare me for?

This program provides skills in demand in both the Ecuadorian and international job markets, in both the academic and private and public sectors. Research and data analysis skills can be applied to roles such as research assistant, data analyst, teaching assistant, junior researcher, project assistant, research analyst, among others. Additionally, the fellowship provides research skills that can be applied across all areas of knowledge.

If you still have questions, please email us at becas@laboratoriolide.org.