EITM Summer Institute
UC Berkeley, June 14 - July 9, 2010
Training a new generation of political scientists
who integrate theoretical and empirical research
to advance our understanding of politics.
In the summer of 2010, the University of California, Berkeley will host the summer institute on EITM: Empirical Implications of Theoretical Models. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), this program trains graduate students and junior faculty in EITM, a research strategy that integrates theoretical models and empirical research to improve and expand our understanding of politics. The institute will integrate developments and findings from throughout political science, including the substantive areas of American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political economy. Applications for the program are due via email on March 1, 2010.
EITM is premised on the advancement of a productive dialogue between theoretical models and empirical analysis. Empirical evidence can be used to bolster the substantive foundations and assumptions of formal models, thereby leading to expanded insights from models themselves. At the same time, formal models can be used to orient and structure empirical investigations --- whether based on observational or experimental data; statistical models or case study analysis --- which then subject models to rigorous tests that meet the highest standards of empirical research. In some instances, researchers create new statistical estimators derived directly from, and therefore closely integrated with, theoretical models. By advancing the dialogue between theoretical models and empirical analysis, EITM is creating a new standard for research that yields cumulative advances to our understanding of politics. Click here for a listing of a few examples of research employing the EITM approach.
The Political Science Program of the National Science Foundation supports annual four-week summer institutes on Empirical Implications of Theoretical Models. Previous summer institutes have taken place at Harvard (2002), Michigan (2003, 2006 and 2009), Duke (2004 and 2008), UC-Berkeley (2005) and UCLA (2007).
The Summer Institute on EITM seeks to train a new generation of scholars who can better link theory and empirical work. Held from June 14 to July 9, 2010, the Summer Institute on EITM at UC Berkeley will be a highly interactive training program for advanced graduate students and junior faculty led by political scientists from across the discipline who employ EITM in their research.
This summer's institute will accept advanced graduate students and junior faculty through a competitive selection process. There are no fees or tuition. Dormitory lodging, meals and domestic travel expenses will be provided for participants through a grant from the National Science Foundation. EITM institutes are selective, with admission based significantly on the quality and potential of research presented. Institute training includes teaching and research components, providing students a highly individualized interaction with a far wider and deeper array of mentors than is available at any individual institution.
We welcome applications from advanced graduate students who have passed all qualifying exams, preferably with a completed dissertation prospectus or plan but not yet at the writing-up stage. Graduate students will benefit most from the program if they are committed to using both theoretical models and empirical data in their dissertations. They should have some training in both formal methodology and quantitative analysis, and advanced training in at least one of these areas.
We also welcome applications from junior faculty looking to improve their defended dissertation in a direction that incorporates EITM, or who are embarking on an EITM-style post-dissertation project. We will base admission decisions substantially on the quality and potential of research proposed in the application.
Please note that the above describes our ideal applicants; interested students or junior faculty should not be deterred from applying due to some perceived shortfall on any of these dimensions. We intend to accept about 25 participants. Applicants will be notified by email by March 15. Female and minority applications are strongly encouraged. Click here for more information about applying to the institute. Applications are due via email on March 1, 2010.
The Summer Institute is just one aspect of the EITM initiative in political science funded by the National Science Foundation. The NSF also funds another, complementary, EITM summer program at Washington University in St. Louis. Participation in either program in no way prohibits students or faculty from future participation in the other program.
The principal investigators for the EITM Summer Institutes are:
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