Applications are now closed.
The Harvey S. Cohen Undergraduate Research Prize is aimed at Economics majors at the University of Pittsburgh who are interested in behavioral and experimental economics. Cohen Fellows received paid research positions in the Pittsburgh Experimental Economics Laboratory (PEEL) learn and assist with experiments in PEEL, work closely with PEEL faculty and graduate students, and collaborate on opportunities in the Behavioral Economics Design Initiative (BEDI). This fellowship is made possible by the generosity of Harvey S. Cohen, who earned his BA in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh and has established a distinguished career as an accountant.
Applications
The Department invites undergraduate students interested in behavioral and experimental economics research to apply for the Harvey Cohen Research Prize. Winners of the Prize will receive paid research positions in the Pittsburgh Experimental Economics Laboratory.
Prize Benefits:
- Earn hourly wage for research work
- Learn and assist with experiments in PEEL
- Work closely with PEEL faculty and graduate students
- Present research findings in a department seminar
- Opportunity to apply for research funds for personal research
- Recognition on department website and on a department plaque
- Obtain research experience you can add to your resume or graduate school application
Eligibility
Pitt sophomore or junior economics majors with a 3.5 GPA or higher are eligible to apply
How to Apply:
Please check back here for information about how to apply once the application window re-opens.
Testimonials: The Cohen Research Prize's Impact
Economics is such a diverse field, and the Harvey Cohen Fellowship has allowed me to explore the different subfields of economics through assisting with professors' research. Assisting in the lab has given me experience with experimental design and behavioral economics, and my work with other professors in the department has exposed me to research in policy analysis, welfare economics, historical economics, and so much more. Having the opportunity to learn from such excellent faculty and assist on such a wide range of research projects has given me an insight into academia that will prove useful should I pursue graduate school. Lastly, attending the weekly behavioral economics seminars has exposed me to the collaborative nature of economics research and fosters an environment where questions are encouraged and discussed deeply. Ultimately, this has been a wonderful undergraduate research experience, and I look forward to maintaining this fellowship until graduation! – Isabella Canals, 2023-Present, Current Cohen Fellow
It sounds very dramatic, but becoming part of the Cohen Fellowship was probably the best decision I made during my time at Pitt. When I first declared my economics major during my sophomore year of college, I was not familiar with just how important the study and research of economics is to society. Throughout this experience, I have gotten to personally speak with researchers on research projects, how they develop their brilliant ideas, and how their studies help to improve everyday life. I have also gotten to participate firsthand in research projects and the PEEL lab. Contributing to the pursuit of knowledge and research during these last 2 years as a Cohen Fellow has undoubtedly been the most rewarding part of my college career. – Claire Nackley, 2023-2025 Cohen Fellow
There are not many opportunities on campus like the Harvey Cohen Fellowship, where this position opens up so many different possibilities; the variety of the scope of research done at PEEL has helped me cultivate a well-rounded understanding of research design and methodology (ex: experimental economics, geopolitical economics, gender economics, developmental, etc.). The researchers work with us in a way where they take the time to explain and teach us about the research process as we go along, ensuring that we are getting as much out of it as possible rather than just assigning us tasks, which has continually made this fellowship a powerful learning environment and overall very enriching to my undergraduate experience at Pitt. – Rylee Ericson, 2021-2025 Cohen Fellow
The Harvey Cohen Fellowship has been an incredibly valuable experience in shaping my perspective on economic research. Working in PEEL exposed me firsthand to the experimental approach, which I further engaged with through brown bag seminars and discussions with professors. Hearing directly from faculty about their research processes was an invaluable experience. Most rewarding was the chance to contribute to ongoing research projects, with faculty who were intentional about helping me understand the broader goals of their work. Overall, the program has been a meaningful stepping stone as I prepare for my research assistantship and graduate school, and I’m extremely grateful for the experience. – William Goodwin, 2023-2025 Cohen Fellow
Current Cohen Fellows
Isabella Canals
Isabella is a senior studying economics & mathematics with a minor in statistics. She is interested in the application of behavioral economics to promote eco-conscious consumption. She is also interested in environmental and healthcare economics..
Audrey Ferdinand
Audrey is a junior studying economics and statistics with minors in Studio Arts and Latin. She is curious about labor, behavioral, and developmental economics, econometrics and building her statistical analytics skills, and topics on overconsumption.
Ellen Prior Kurr
Ellen is a junior studying Economics and Politics-Philosophy. She is interested in the intersection of Behavioral Economics and Political behavior as well as how to promote charitable giving through policy.
Hailey Latona
Hailey is a senior studying math and economics with a minor in global studies. She is interested in how behavioral economics appears in the workplace and how to promote economic development across cultures.
Claire Meachen
Claire is a senior studying Economics, Mathematical Biology, and German with a minor in Theatre Arts and a certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. She is interested in the dynamic relationship between and intersection of Behavioral, Environmental, and Financial Economics.
Olga Tseytlin
Olga is a junior majoring in Economics and History with a minor in Statistics. She is interested in Economic History, Econometrics, and Behavioral Economics especially as it applies to policy making.
Previous Cohen Fellows
- William Goodwin, 2023-2025
The Harvey Cohen Fellowship has been an incredibly valuable experience in shaping my perspective on economic research. Working in PEEL exposed me firsthand to the experimental approach, which I further engaged with through brown bag seminars and discussions with professors. Hearing directly from faculty about their research processes was an invaluable experience. Most rewarding was the chance to contribute to ongoing research projects, with faculty who were intentional about helping me understand the broader goals of their work. Overall, the program has been a meaningful stepping stone as I prepare for my research assistantship and graduate school, and I’m extremely grateful for the experience.
- Claire Nackley, 2023-2025
It sounds very dramatic, but becoming part of the Cohen Fellowship was probably the best decision I made during my time at Pitt. When I first declared my economics major during my sophomore year of college, I was not familiar with just how important the study and research of economics is to society. Throughout this experience, I have gotten to personally speak with researchers on research projects, how they develop their brilliant ideas, and how their studies help to improve everyday life. I have also gotten to participate firsthand in research projects and the PEEL lab. Contributing to the pursuit of knowledge and research during these last 2 years as a Cohen Fellow has undoubtedly been the most rewarding part of my college career.
- Rylee Ericson, 2021-2025
There are not many opportunities on campus like the Harvey Cohen Fellowship, where this position opens up so many different possibilities; the variety of the scope of research done at PEEL has helped me cultivate a well-rounded understanding of research design and methodology (ex: experimental economics, geopolitical economics, gender economics, developmental, etc.). The researchers work with us in a way where they take the time to explain and teach us about the research process as we go along, ensuring that we are getting as much out of it as possible rather than just assigning us tasks, which has continually made this fellowship a powerful learning environment and overall very enriching to my undergraduate experience at Pitt.
- Simon Wang, 2023-2024
The Harvey Cohen Fellowship is a truly unique experience and one that has played a pivotal role in shaping my post-graduate plans. Working with PEEL faculty and graduate students, I've learned so much about the field and what an academic career in economics looks like. Through weekly brown bag seminars and participating in guest speaker discussions alongside PhD students, I've developed my own research interests and been exposed to the types of questions economists ask. My experience as a Cohen Fellow has furthered my interest in pursuing a research career and supported me in discovering my own path to making an impact through research.
- Molly Hayden, 2023
The Harvey S. Cohen fellowship has given me the opportunity to not only expand my understanding of academic research but also grow the network of people I have met across campus. This role has exposed me to so many different areas of research through the small, one-off tasks I have helped researchers with such as rating sentence creativity to more consistent and time intensive assignments like helping Dor [Morag] recruit participants on the spot for his hat experiment. This fellowship has allowed me to learn so much about the research being conducted in the experimental economics field and the different research methods that can be used to collect data. In addition to the academic side of the fellowship, I also have had the opportunity to meet so many new people within the Economics department. The other fellows have become friends and colleagues of mine; some of whom I have been able to work with in other economics classes. This fellowship has given me such insight into what the economics research process looks like and allowed me to get to know a whole new group of people on campus.
- Sofia Elena Palacios, 2022-2023
The Harvey Cohen Research Prize has given me the best opportunity of my undergraduate career. As someone with a clear idea of going to graduate school in economics, this research prize has been the best way to get experience. Only a few undergraduate students get to participate in economics research, so I am thankful to have been exposed to experimental economics. The Harvey Cohen Research Prize stands out on my resume and is a big talking point in interviews.
Through the program, I have gotten to work with fantastic faculty and Ph.D. students in their fields. Firstly, I became certified according to Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) guidelines for research with human subjects. Further, I reviewed the requirements for the Institutional Review Board's (IRB) approval of research with human subjects. Then, Pittsburgh Experimental Economics Laboratory (PEEL) students trained me in the procedures for running online experiments and in-person experiments at the lab. Finally, I have helped run sessions in the PEEL lab, checking in participants and helping with the smooth running of the experiments for different researchers.
Furthermore, I helped the Behavioral Economics Design Initiative (BEDI) with its inaugural conference, where I was able to hear professors from around the country present their research. I assisted Dr. Lise Vesterlund with the release of her book. Researchers have needed my help with recruiting participants for PEEL experiments. I have tested and proofread surveys or experiments before they were conducted with participants, written summaries and gathered literature, and attended experimental seminars.
Overall, the Harvey Cohen Research Position has significantly contributed to my experience as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, enriched my economics education, and furthered my interest in pursuing an advanced economics degree.- Anna Kovarick, 2020-2022
Being a Cohen Fellow has helped shape my experience at Pitt. Having exposure in an area of economics I was unaware of before my research position, I have been lucky to gain exposure to such an interesting and complex area of economics. In this program, I have gained experience with coding, leadership, structuring literature reviews, studying online crowdsourcing platforms, and coming up with my own research—all while operating mostly online. I really enjoy the opportunities I have to attend Brown Bag seminars, learn from research associates and get an inside look into what a graduate program in economics could look like. In my last semester with the Fellows at Pitt, I am excited to translate all that I have learned to our amazing new Cohen Fellows by advising them using my experience from the past 3 years. My college experience would not have been the same without this incredible program!
- Acadia Hall, 2020-2022
As a Cohen fellow for two years, I assisted with the running of dozens of different on-line and in-person lab experiments, giving me invaluable first-hand experience with the rules, procedures, and inner-workings of an economics lab. Further, this opportunity exposed me to many different research content areas and connected me with the economics faculty. In addition to assisting researchers as they run their experiments, over the course of my time as a Cohen fellow I was able to work on numerous projects either for specific researchers or to expand my own research goals and knowledge. In one case, working on preliminary data analysis with an environmental economics professor led to a year-long research assistant position. I was also able to research topics I’m interested in with the assistance of our graduate student supervisor and learn the basics of oTree, growing my research interests and abilities significantly.
The amount of familiarity that I now have with both the online and in-person lab will prove invaluable to me in my future research endeavors. Overall, this opportunity has jump-started my future as a researcher by exposing me to current topics in economic research, giving me first-hand experience in an economics lab, and allowing me to interact with all the different stages of the research process.
- Catherine Creiman, 2019-2020
Last semester marked the return of in-person experiments. Just as we had to help instruct researchers on how to run studies over zoom, in the fall we guided them on how to run in the lab. Since I was the only Cohen Fellow to have much experience running sessions in the lab, I additionally had to show Anna and Acadia how things generally work there. There’s a lot more cleaning and a lot less multitasking than the zoom modification. We helped with a few lab experiments, including one that involved payment with goods rather than money, so for instance one participant walked away with 36 granola bars. We also helped test a few studies, both survey and task-based. Finally, the three of us learned basic python, which we are continuing to work on. So far we’ve coded a survey and a couple of simple games.
Catherine was also featured in our Spring 2022 newsletter.
Farah Hendawy, 2025
Peter Bosco, 2019-2020
Quinn Danielson, 2018-2019
Manpreet Dhankhar, 2018-2019
Jingkai Fu, 2020-2021
Evan Kaminski, 2019-2020
Srihaasa Kompella, 2019-2020
William Mischler, 2018-2019
Jacob Wiersch, 2018-2019