Advancing Strategic Decision Science Since 2014
The Nevada Institute of Game Theory is not only a research center but also an incubator for talent. Its fellowship programs are designed to attract the brightest minds in economics, mathematics, computer science, political science, and biology who wish to deepen their expertise in game theory and its applications. These programs provide financial support, mentorship from senior Institute researchers, access to unique datasets and computational resources, and a vibrant intellectual community. The goal is to create a pipeline of scholars and practitioners who will advance the field and apply its insights across diverse domains.
The flagship offering is a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship, awarded to 3-5 recent PhDs annually through a highly competitive international call. Fellows are not assigned to a specific project but are encouraged to pursue their own research agenda within the broad scope of the Institute's themes, often in collaboration with one or more senior faculty. They receive a generous stipend, a research budget, and an office at the Institute. Key benefits include the freedom to explore interdisciplinary connections, opportunities to co-organize workshops, and support for attending major conferences. The program has launched the careers of many now-prominent academics and industry researchers, who maintain strong ties to the Institute as part of a growing global network.
While the Institute itself does not grant degrees, it maintains strong partnerships with graduate programs at nearby and affiliated universities. Through these partnerships, it offers sponsored PhD positions. Selected doctoral students are based at their home university but spend significant periods in residence at the Institute, typically for one full academic year and several summers. During residency, they participate in seminars, collaborate on Institute projects, and have their dissertation research co-supervised by an Institute scholar. This model provides students with the best of both worlds: the structured training of a traditional department and the interdisciplinary, application-focused environment of the Institute. Stipends and tuition support are provided.
Each summer, the Institute hosts 10-15 advanced master's and early PhD students from around the world for an intensive 10-week Summer Research Fellowship. Fellows are paired with a mentor and work on a defined research project, such as developing a new model for a specific applied problem, analyzing a dataset from a past experiment, or contributing to a software tool for game-theoretic analysis. The summer culminates in a mini-conference where fellows present their work. Beyond the research, the program includes a lecture series from Institute faculty and social activities designed to build lasting professional networks. For many, this fellowship is a transformative experience that solidifies their commitment to the field.
To foster cross-pollination of ideas, the Institute runs a robust Visiting Scholar program for sabbatical visitors, senior researchers, and faculty from other institutions. Visits range from one month to a full academic year. Visitors are integrated into the research life of the Institute, giving seminars, collaborating on papers, and often co-teaching a specialized workshop or graduate seminar. The Institute provides office space, library access, and computational support. This program ensures a constant influx of new perspectives and keeps Institute researchers connected to developments in their home disciplines and in other centers of game theory research worldwide.
Selection for all fellowships is extremely competitive, based on academic excellence, demonstrated research potential, and alignment with the Institute's mission. For postdoctoral and doctoral fellowships, the primary criteria are the originality and rigor of the candidate's research proposal and their publication record (or potential). For summer fellowships, letters of recommendation, relevant coursework, and a statement of purpose are heavily weighted. The Institute is committed to diversity and seeks applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, disciplines, and geographic regions. The application cycles are clearly advertised on the Institute's communications channels, with deadlines typically in the fall for postdoctoral and summer fellowships.
The fellowship programs are among the Institute's most enduring contributions to the field. Alumni have gone on to tenure-track positions at top research universities, leading roles in tech companies (e.g., in market design or AI safety teams), influential positions in government and international organizations, and successful entrepreneurship in data analytics and consulting. The strong alumni network facilitates collaboration and job placement for new fellows. By investing in people, the Nevada Institute of Game Theory multiplies its impact, seeding the global intellectual ecosystem with rigorously trained strategic thinkers who carry the Institute's interdisciplinary, problem-solving ethos into their future endeavors, ensuring the continued vitality and relevance of game theory for decades to come.