Human Capital Initiative Faculty Affiliate Program

The Human Capital Initiative Faculty Affiliate Program brings together outstanding Boston University researchers whose scholarship is centered around issues related to human capital, social and economic development and human well-being to actively support faculty research activities in these focal areas and to foster engagement and collaboration within the BU human capital research community at large.

Newly appointed Faculty Affiliates will receive seed grant funding to further their research related to human capital and well-being at Boston University. HCI Faculty Affiliates are provided a variety of opportunities to collaborate with other researchers affiliated with the initiative and interact with a diverse group of academics, policymakers and practitioners from around the world. Faculty Affiliates also have access to request administrative resources such as event planning, communications and grant support from administrative staff.

HCI Research Programs:

• • The Program on Women’s Empowerment Research investigates the causes and consequences of women’s empowerment on human well-being in low- and middle-income settings. The program studies the extent to which policy and programmatic interventions that seek to be empowering do (or do not) contribute to welfare improvements for women, their families, and their communities. Through applied intervention research, researchers investigate four core domains: 1) human capital (health and education); 2) mobility and access; 3) sustainable economic empowerment; 4) gender equality in the labor market.
  • Political Economy of Human Capital focuses on issues at the intersection of political economy, public policy, and development. Key research themes of this program include: 1) identifying the extent to which political institutions alter the quality of local public goods – from the structure of the economy to the distribution of property rights; 2) identifying the impact of political institutions on human capital, the capacity of elected leaders to govern, and the quality of deliberative democracy and inter-group relations; and 3) studying the impact of affirmative action policies on the quality of local government and human capital.
  • Population Health Economics supports research on the determinants of population health related to economic development and shifting disease burdens. Researchers focus on how structural factors interact with human behavior to shape the health of populations and how policies can target these root causes while accounting for behavioral responses. Key research themes of this program include: (1) transformation of health systems to address chronic disease epidemics; (2) economics of health decision-making; and (3) structural interventions for disease prevention.

Program Details:

HCI Faculty Affiliates are appointed for a one-year term. Applications to the Faculty Affiliate program are evaluated by the HCI Core Faculty members. Appointments are reviewed by the HCI Core Faculty and may be renewed on an annual basis. Newly appointed Faculty Affiliates will receive a one-time $2,500 seed grant award to further their research related to human capital and well-being at Boston University. HCI Faculty Affiliates are provided a variety of opportunities to collaborate with other researchers affiliated with the initiative and interact with a diverse group of academics, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world. Faculty Affiliates also have access to request administrative resources such as event planning, communication, and grant support from the GDP Center’s Administrative Staff. Eligibility: Faculty Affiliates are Boston University researchers who are pursuing policy-oriented research in fields that are related to and may be supported by the Human Capital Initiative’s research programs. They must hold a full-time faculty appointment in any one of BU’s schools or departments.

Faculty Affiliate Responsibilities:

1. 1.  Contribute to the intellectual community at HCI and at the GDP Center at large.
   2.  Collaborate with other HCI Faculty Affiliates, researchers, and students on academic and policy outputs that are commensurate with the Initiative’s mission.
   3.  Actively explore and develop new collaborations within HCI, especially those that span disciplinary boundaries.
   4.  Participate in events, seminars, and meetings that are hosted by HCI and the GDP Center.
   5.  Mentor and support undergraduate and graduate students who are involved in HCI-related projects and activities.
   6.  Agree to be identified as a Faculty Affiliate on the HCI and GDP Center websites.
   7.  Appropriately acknowledge HCI and the GDP Center in activities, publications, and research outputs that result from collaboration with the Initiative’s faculty and resources.
   8.  Expand the reach of their research through HCI communications platforms.
   9.  Contribute to the governance of HCI by attending affiliate meetings and sharing their ideas.

Current HCI Faculty Affiliates:

Current HCI Core Faculty Members: