The Global Behavioral Science (GLOBES) program provides students an immersive learning experience focused on reproducible behavioral research across languages and settings. Students will travel to the UK and work with international researchers. The Summer 2021 research topic was decision-making and (in)equality, and the Summer 2022 research focus will be released soon.
Program Overview
On this program students will:
- Gain essential skills and knowledge for conducting psychological research across the world.
- Take part in interactive group work to become leaders in high quality research.
- Learn current scientific methods for reproducibility of behavioral studies on a global scale.
- Gain hands-on experience with scientific research by collecting data, analyzing results, and having the opportunity to co-author a manuscript. Here is an example of a published study from the program, which has a major impact on the field
- Travel to the UK and take part in a professional conference at the end of the program
- Be exposed to an excellent platform for professional development within the field.
Eligibility and Application
- Open to all undergraduate and graduate students in good academic and disciplinary standing.
- All class years may apply; Participation is optimal for juniors, such that they have completed sufficient study for participation.
- Students should have completed at least one semester of research methods and/or one semester of statistics, as part of a minimum total of 16 credits in a behavioral subject (psychology, neuroscience, economics, sociology, public health, or public policy). Students that have not met these requirements but are interested in the program should contact the instructor as early as possible.
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
HOW TO APPLY
Want to apply? Click the “Start Your Application" button at the top of this page. If the button doesn't appear above, the program is not yet accepting applications. You will be asked to set up a short profile, which will allow us to send you relevant information about your application. Once you’ve created a profile, you will see a checklist of items that you will need to submit. These generally include:
- Application questionnaire(s)
- Personal statement
- Official transcript(s)
Academics
Global Behavioral Science, PSYC 1991 OC, 4 credits
Note: The University reserves the right to withdraw or modify the courses of instruction or to change the instructors as may become necessary.
Students will participate in a practicum hosted at the University of Cambridge (UCAM). They will work with 20 to 30 psychology students on the Junior Research Programme from multiple universities and countries who will join the practicum, along with over 100 other research collaborators. The objective is for students to get hands-on experience in carrying out behavioral science research, from study development to dissemination, while participating in a large, international collaboration. Specific skills to be acquired include multicultural teamwork, research design, data collection (internationally), data analysis, scientific writing, and academic presentation. Students are encouraged to engage in the publication and revision process, subject to feasibility. All contributors will receive authorship credit.
Academic Schedule:
| Week 1: | Global Behavioral Science Seminar 10-12pm and 1-3pm |
| Week 2-6: | Group meetings and data collection: 9-5pm |
| Week 7: | Group meetings, collaborative writing, and participation in JRP conference: 9-3pm |
The course schedule is not yet finalized, and is subject to change.
GRADES AND TRANSCRIPTS
Grading Policy
Click here for the Columbia summer program grading policies.
Transcripts
Upon successful completion of the program, grades are entered into Columbia's online grading system and students can request a Columbia University transcript. Non-Columbia students (including Barnard) can request electronic transcripts online through the Columbia University registrar.
No credit is granted to students who do not complete the full program
Life in Cambridge
The program is hosted by the University of Cambridge. GLOBES students will stay at the Corpus Christi College at the University of Cambridge. With its historic building, and various facilities it is a great location for students who will be close to the main university as well as the city center.
Students will be housed in single rooms, furnished with at least a bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers, desk with chair and reading lamp, and an easy chair or sofa. Pillows, duvets and mattress protectors are supplied but not bed linen or towels. Basic cooking facilities are available nearby (containing a sink, a fridge, a combination microwave, a kettle and a toaster).
At the end of the program, GLOBES students will attend the Junior Researcher Programme Conference. This three day conference is a capstone event for each cohort or researchers, held annually at Corpus Christi College. This event is an opportunity for research teams to present the progress of their work. The conference also includes interactive sessions, a full day of presentations, and a formal dinner.
Hear from faculty and students!
Previous Information Session
Former Student
Former Student
Global Columbia Collaboratory
All participants in summer 2021 programs will have access to the Global Columbia Collaboratory, a non-credit virtual exchange experience that helps students learn more about global challenges, enhance their global competencies by connecting and cooperating across a global network, and empower students to make a difference in the world as global citizens. In the Collaboratory, students can engage with fellow students and the broader Columbia network to:
Participate in regularly scheduled theme-based global seminars from faculty and experts drawn from Columbia’s global networks;
Exchange perspectives and engage together in reflection on the global challenges framed by the global seminars; and
Engage in collaboration and ideation on projects and ideas that impact today’s society.
People
Kai Ruggeri is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Management. Kai joined Columbia from the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge, where he directed the Policy Research Group that he founded in 2013. He studies how policy influences population behavior, and how integrating behavioral evidence into policies can improve economic outcomes and population well-being. His teaching is primarily in analytics and decision-making as well as in behavioral and managerial economics. His current projects involve a number of behavioral policy studies focusing on large-scale data related to economic choices and related outcomes. Partners include local and national governments, non-profit organizations, industry, and other academic institutions, in New York, various parts of the US, and abroad. He is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Business Research at the Judge Business School and Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts and Sciences. Kai also directs the Junior Researcher Programme, a global initiative for early-career behavioral scientists.
Financial Considerations
2022 Tuition and Fees: TBD
Please see our cost breakdown for detailed information.
*Tuition and fees are subject to the Board of Trustees' approval and may change.
FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS
If you are on financial aid, check to see if it can be applied to studying abroad. In general summer financial aid is not available to Columbia College or Columbia Engineering students, but may be available to School of General Studies students. Non-Columbia students should check with their home schools for funding availability.
Global Learning Scholarship
The Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement (UGE) is pleased to announce Global Learning Scholarships to help students fund their participation in this program. If awarded, these partial scholarships will be applied toward tuition charges for this program.
Eligibility:
First-year undergraduate students from General Studies, Columbia College, and SEAS who demonstrate financial need
Recipients must be accepted to this Columbia-led program
To Apply:
After starting a program application, complete the “Global Learning Scholarship” questionnaire in your UGE account.
Scholarship Applications Due:
March 7 (closes at 11:59 pm EST) or program deadline, whichever occurs first.
For more general information and resources on financing your time abroad, please see the pages below:
WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY
If you decide to withdraw from the program once it has already started, please be aware of the financial consequences and the office policies by clicking here.
