PEARL

Political Economy and Race Lab

Description

The PEARL represents an effort to build a research community around the study of political economy and race. We understand political economy research as a study of how economic and political systems are linked and how the investigation of these linkages can strengthen our understanding of critical economic and political phenomena. Political economy research is a vital part of many disciplines but has failed to develop as a distinct, sustained focus of study among interdisciplinary scholars. Political and economic development often cannot be separated from race, race-making, and race relations. Across its different functions, the PEARL brings together scholars of different ranks, from undergraduate students to assistant professors from a range of institute types (e.g., R2, liberal arts, minority serving). the PEARL is designed to explore what we know about political economy and race, and what we need to learn.

Interested in Joining the Lab as an RA

Undergraduate and Graduate Research Opportunities

Joining a research lab, a research team, or a research project for a faculty member is a great opportunity and a significant responsibility. The projects conducted are real studies that we present at professional conferences and publish in academic journals.

Sometimes students become authors or co-authors. In the short-term, these projects' success develops students' hands-on research skills, leadership and teamwork capabilities, and future career options. In the long-term, other scholars will use this work to inform future scholarship and programs to address real-world problems. Consequently, prospective research assistants must take the work seriously and show good judgment, which means that faculty carefully select students.

If you are considering being a research assistant, please review the “So You Want to RA” guide that covers common questions and concerns about research assistant opportunities.

If you are interested in working as a research assistant in the PEARL, you can review and complete the undergraduate research assistant interest form or the graduate research assistant interest form at your earliest convenience.  

Interested in Joining the Lab Working Group

The Consumer Finance Working Group

The Consumer Finance Working Group is designed as a welcoming space for early career scholars to discuss early research ideas and design, share relevant literature, and ultimately think together. A year long, quarterly commitment where participants circulate a research memo, a section of a paper that needs a little extra attention, or talk through a concern in their work. We welcome a broad range of research on the relationship between government and market institutions, including those using a diverse set of methods and topics related to political economy and race. If interested in joining, please contact pearlab.info@gmail.com for more information.

Invitations Closed for 2024-2025. Reopens June 2025

Interested in Joining the Lab Coworking Space

PEARL Co-Work

The PEARL co-working space is a collaborative interdisciplinary research cluster that includes a two-hour session and a brief check-in at the end. This co-working space provides phd students and faculty members across higher education institutions with additional structure and motivation to overcome typical roadblocks in the work process, by offering support and a virtual environment for focused working time. If interested in joining, please contact pearlab.info@gmail.com for more information.

Invitations Closed for 2024-2025. Reopens March 2025.