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The Alan W. Heston Fellowship aims to cultivate emerging statisticians and economists working on international price comparisons, PPP studies, and improving global data systems….
The World Bank has officially launched applications for the Alan W. Heston Fellowship, a program offering up to $10,000 in funding for early-career researchers and statisticians focused on advancing economic measurement, international price comparisons, and purchasing power parity (PPP) studies.
Designed for research projects spanning six to twelve months, the fellowship seeks to nurture the next generation of leaders in international economic statistics while helping strengthen national and regional statistical systems.
Applications for the fellowship close on March 29, 2026, with a shortlist of candidates scheduled to be announced on April 13, and final decisions released by May 15, according to the World Bank’s official website.
Fellowship goals and expectations
The World Bank said the fellowship is aimed at empowering scholars and statisticians to improve data quality, expand research on price and quantity comparisons, and reinforce the practical application of PPP-based GDP measurements globally.
Selected fellows are expected to:
- Provide a summary of research findings alongside an updated timeline and budget.
- Engage with the Fellowship Secretariat to receive guidance on methodology and data usage.
- Prepare a draft for publication on the World Bank Data Blog.
- Submit a draft or final research paper and outline plans for future publications.
What the fellowship offers
Recipients of the Alan W. Heston Fellowship will receive:
- Funding of up to $10,000 USD to support research for six to twelve months.
- Mentorship and technical guidance from the ICP Global Office and the ICP research community, including access to data, research methodology support, and practical applications.
- Opportunities to share findings publicly via the World Bank Data Blog or the World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series.
Eligibility requirements
Applications are open to early-career researchers within five years of completing a PhD, including:
- Post-doctoral fellows
- Assistant professors
- Candidates on the PhD job market in economics, economic statistics, policy studies, or related disciplines
Statisticians working in national or regional statistical agencies conducting research aimed at improving data frameworks or statistical methodology are also eligible.
Required application materials
Applicants must submit:
- A CV and cover letter (max 500 words) outlining research interests and alignment with the fellowship’s objectives.
- A project proposal (max 1,500 words, excluding annexes) including objectives, methodology, expected impact, timeline, budget, and deliverables.
- Pre-approval letter or equivalent documentation if currently employed by a government agency.
- Two references including names, institutions, job titles, and email addresses.
All materials must be uploaded via the online submission portal.
Honouring Professor Alan W. Heston
The fellowship commemorates the late Professor Alan W. Heston (1934–2024), co-founder of the International Comparison Program (ICP) and the Penn World Table, initiatives that provide widely used PPP-based GDP comparisons for global economic analysis.
Through this fellowship, the World Bank intends to carry forward Heston’s legacy by giving early-career researchers and statisticians the opportunity to advance international economic measurement, enhance statistical systems, and strengthen the use of PPPs in socioeconomic analysis worldwide.
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