The Initiative for Financial Decision-Making (IFDM) at the Stanford Graduate School of Business invites applications for postdoctoral fellowships under the supervision of Professor Annamaria Lusardi, the Initiative’s faculty director. The in-person fellowship begins in summer 2026 (no later than September 1, 2026), runs for one year, and may be renewed assuming performance at or above expectations; a two-year term is strongly preferred.
The fellowship centers on empirical research related to financial literacy and financial decision-making. IFDM builds on more than a decade of research by the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center (GFLEC), founded by Professor Lusardi, which has developed widely used tools to measure financial literacy, advanced the field’s research agenda, and shaped financial education programs in the U.S. and globally. More information about that work is at www.gflec.org.
IFDM’s cutting-edge research program applies data, economic theory, and analytics to understand what drives household financial literacy and money management. Planned projects include analyses of: (i) financial fragility trends among U.S. adults over the past twelve years; (ii) risk comprehension and its effects on investor behavior; (iii) how financial literacy influences household financial outcomes; and (iv) the impact of educational interventions on financial knowledge and behavior.
Postdoctoral fellows are expected to produce academic research from the Initiative’s agenda and will work closely and directly with all members of the Initiative, including the director, co-authors of academic papers, PhD students, and other postdoctoral fellows. This is a dedicated research community with plenty of interaction and the expectation of both working collaboratively in smaller groups but also independently on projects. Progress on the research is required to be presented regularly to a broader group of stakeholders of the Initiative. The fellow is expected to be actively involved in the Initiative’s intellectual community by participating in meetings, research lunches/colloquia, and potentially joint projects. The fellow is also encouraged to integrate with the broader research community at Stanford by attending seminars and other events.
The primary selection criterion is research excellence in household/personal finance or applied economics and a clear interest in contributing to the Initiative’s research. The position requires someone with a strong background in the field, i.e. a PhD in Economics or Finance. A focus on household finance or program evaluation is preferred.
Further inquiries about the position can be directed to the IFDM: stanfordifdm@stanford.edu.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our mission at the GSB. We believe we will best enact our educational and research missions when all members of our community are able to leverage the experiences and ideas of others, embrace different viewpoints, feel that they belong, and know that their contributions are valued.
Required Qualifications:
- Doctoral degree conferred prior to appointment start date.
Required Application Materials:
For full consideration, please submit application materials by January 31, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. International applicants may be sponsored for J1 visas. Fellows eligible for OPT are encouraged to use it during the fellowship.
1. A research statement summarizing your research, future research plans, and your interest in the Initiative for Financial Decision-Making’s postdoctoral position
2. A current CV
3. Up to two working papers/publications/work in progress.
4. Arrange for at least three letters of recommendation to be submitted by the deadline. Further letters up to five are permissible.
Stanford is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
To apply, send a message to stanfordifdm@stanford.edu. (See posting for details.)