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Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship

A one-year online program for scholars, practitioners, and graduate students from any discipline with interest in political economy and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence.

Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year are now closed. Application review will begin after the deadline, and decisions will begin to be announced around twelve weeks after the deadline.

Sign up for our newsletter to receive an announcement when applications open for the 2027-2028 academic year. 

Details

The total award of up to $2,250 includes: 

  • A stipend
  • All required readings

Qualifications

In order to be accepted into the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship program, you must be one of the following:

  • A graduate student in any discipline and from any university pursuing research on emerging technologies and AI
  • An active scholar at an academic or research organization who teachers or does research on emerging technologies and AI
  • An active practitioner in research or policy related to emerging technologies and AI

About the Fellowship

The Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship is a one-year, competitive and online fellowship program awarded to scholars, practitioners, and graduate students from any discipline with interest in political economy and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence.

The aim of this fellowship is to introduce graduate students, scholars, and practitioners to how the Austrian, Virginia, and Bloomington schools of political economy address questions regarding institutions, progress, governance, epistemology, the theory of the mind, and philosophy of science. Exploring these questions is particularly relevant for assessing the potential and limitations of artificial intelligence and other such emerging technologies. Oskar Morgenstern Fellows meet for three weekends during the academic year participating in online seminar discussion-style colloquia on these themes of political economy. Fellows will join a network of Mercatus students, alumni, and scholars who are conducting and engaging with cutting edge research in contemporary political economy.

Current Oskar Morgenstern Fellows Alumni of the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship
Morgenstern About Photo

Have more questions? 

    1. Should I apply to the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship?

    Individuals who meet the following criteria are strongly encouraged to apply:

    • Students who will be enrolled in an accredited graduate program during the upcoming academic year or professionals and practitioners working in research or academic positions related to quantitative methods, emerging technologies, or artificial intelligence. 
    • Individuals who are able to commit to attending three virtual weekend colloquia throughout the academic year. 
    • Individuals who study or engage with emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, A.I. governance, or whose research employs quantitative methods (including but not limited to advanced statistics, regression analysis, experimental economics, mathematical modeling and agent-based modeling) and have a research or teaching interest that would benefit from a greater understanding of key writings in political economy.
    2. I am planning on attending graduate school next year. Can I still apply?

    Yes. Acceptance to the program for students is conditional on enrollment in an accredited graduate degree program during the year of participation in the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship program. 

    3. How do I apply?

    To apply to the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship, click the "Apply" button above or below (only active when applications are open), and complete the online application, including:

    • A 1-2 page cover letter

    • A current resume/CV

    • A few short answer questions

    4. I just submitted my application. When will decisions be announced?

    Application review will begin after the deadline, and decisions will begin to be announced twelve or more weeks after the deadline.

     

    5. My discipline is not one of the disciplines that you have listed. Am I still eligible?

    Yes. Students from any discipline who have interest in how mainline political economy and emerging technologies relate to their discipline or who have training in quantitative methods (including but not limited to advanced statistics, regression analysis, experimental economics, mathematical modeling and agent-based modeling) and have a research and/or teaching interest that would benefit from a greater understanding of key writings in political economy are strongly encouraged to apply.

    Practitioners and early-career scholars engaging in emerging technologies are strongly encouraged to apply. 

    6. I am not based in the United States. Am I eligible for the fellowship?

    Any student, scholar, or practitioner of any nationality in the US or abroad is eligible to apply for the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship.

    7. Am I eligible to receive the funding provided by the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship Program?

    Each fellow is responsible for making the appropriate verifications of their eligibility to receive funding from the Mercatus Center. Fellows should check with their home departments, international student offices, and/or private foundations (as appropriate) to verify their eligibility. Fellows are responsible for any applicable taxes on the honoraria provided through the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship Program.

    8. As a fellow, what am I required to do?

    Oskar Morgenstern fellows are required to attend and actively participate in all aspects of the scheduled program of events (i.e., three virtual weekend colloquia), meet stated deadlines, arrive on time and prepared for each colloquia session having carefully read the assigned reading in advance, and be honest, responsible, fair, and civil in all activities of the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship Program.

    9. What is the schedule of colloquia for the upcoming academic year?

    Colloquium dates are subject to some variability. The program will typically host one virtual weekend colloquium in the fall or winter and two weekend colloquia in the spring. Exact dates will be communicated to successful applicants by August preceding participation in the program.

    10. How will the readings and other materials associated with my involvement in the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship Program be provided?

    Fellows are responsible for maintaining an up-to-date record with the program of a valid postal address to which packages can be shipped. Readings will be distributed both by email and by post at least 1 month in advance of each colloquium.

    11. The Mercatus Center was unable to award me a fellowship this year. Can I apply again?

    Yes.

    12. Who was Oskar Morgenstern?

    Most well-known for his central role in the application of mathematics to economics alongside John von Neumann known as game theory, Oskar Morgenstern earned his PhD in political science from the University of Vienna in 1925 and trained under some of the earliest scholars of the Austrian tradition of economics – Friedrich von Wieser, Hans Mayer and Ludwig von Mises. In 1931, Morgenstern succeeded F.A. Hayek as the director of the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (which Hayek founded with Mises, and still exists today) when Hayek accepted a position with the London School of Economics. In 1935, he became a professor of economics at the University of Vienna and was an active participant in Karl Menger’s “Vienna Colloquium.” When Austria was annexed by Germany during his lecture tour in the United States, he became a professor of economics at Princeton University. In 1970, he joined the faculty at New York University.

    13. Are there additional opportunities for support for prospective or past participants in the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship Program?

    Yes, fellowship recipients are eligible to re-apply to the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship. Graduate students in any degree program may also be eligible for the Frédéric Bastiat Fellowship, the Ronald Coase Fellowship, and the Don Lavoie Fellowship. Doctoral students may also be eligible for those programs, as well as the Adam Smith Fellowship, the Carl Menger Fellowship, and the Elinor Ostrom Fellowship. Early career scholars who have graduated from doctoral programs in the last six years may be eligible for the James Buchanan Fellowship. 

    14. I still have questions about the Mercatus Center Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship Program.

    Email [email protected] regarding general questions about the fellowship or questions about you application status or application materials.

    Ready to get started?

    Confirm your qualifications

    In order to be accepted into the Oskar Morgenstern Fellowship program, you must be:

    • A graduate student in any discipline and from any university pursuing research on emerging technologies and AI
    • An active scholar at an academic or research organization who teachers or does research on emerging technologies and AI
    • An active practitioner in research or policy related to emerging technologies and AI
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