Lyon Summer School in Empirical Research Methods
About
Location:
Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon
15 parvis René Descartes, 69342 Lyon
Dates:
From Tuesday 1st to Thursday 3rd July 2025
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The Lyon Summer School in Empirical Research Methods is designed for early-stage PhD students to provide them with the essential methodological tools and practical guidance for conducting rigorous empirical research. The summer school is open to PhD students in economics and other quantitative social sciences disciplines. The programme focuses on the entire research process, from formulating a strong research question to presenting compelling results.
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Conducting empirical research in economics poses a number of challenges that need to be considered from the outset of a project. Participants will develop a solid foundation in empirical research design, data collection and analysis. They will learn how to build robust research frameworks, collect and handle data effectively, and adhere to academic standards, including GDPR compliance.
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Contents:
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2 keynotes
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A 5 module-course track
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Workshop sessions
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Social events​​​​
Two keynotes
Pierre-Philippe Combes
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Pierre-Philippe Combes is professor of economics at Sciences Po Paris and head of the PhD programs. His research interests are in urban economics and economic geography, with a special interest in the working of local labour and housing market. He also focuses on spatial disparities and the historical evolution of urban areas in France. He is also co-editor of the Journal of Urban Economics.
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Davide Cantoni
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Davide Cantoni is professor of economics and economic history at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Munich). His research spans political economy and economic history, with a special interest in the economic history of Germany before 1900, in institutional and cultural change, and in the political economy of education and of mass movements. He is also a member of the editorial board of the Review of Economic Studies and of the American Economic Review.
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A 5 module-course track
1. Writing a paper introduction
The goal of this module is to help you write a compelling and clear introduction to your research. You will gain the skills to effectively explain your methodology, connect your work to broader literature, and clearly showcase the unique contribution your project makes to knowledge. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to engage your audience and set the stage for the impact of your research.
2. Empirical Design
This module focuses on helping you to translate your research question into an empirical setting with a solid research design. Whether it involves designing a survey or collecting human-subject data, using secondary data with new material, or other approaches, you will learn how to turn your idea into a concrete plan. The module also covers good practices in survey design, including topics such as GDPR compliance and pre-analysis plans.
3. Data Collection
This module offers two options to develop specialized data skills for your research. You can choose to focus on working with archival data, learning how to collect and convert it into machine-readable formats, or explore the use of satellite data and GIS tools as resources for economic analysis. Both options provide practical techniques to enhance your research skills.
4. Replication and Data Management
This module introduces students to the importance of replication in empirical research. The focus is on implementing good practice in terms of data management and reproducible workflows from day one of a research project. It covers essential aspects such as data organization and documentation, versioning, and the creation of replication packages.
5. Presentation skills and visualization of research results
Once you have fresh and exciting results, the next challenge is to present them effectively to an audience. This module will help you to structure your presentations, use visual evidence to clearly communicate your key messages, and convey the reasoning behind your findings. You will learn how to provide your audience with the right information, improve your result visualizations, and avoid common pitfalls with practical tips and do’s and don’ts for impactful presentations.
Workshops sessions
Participants will have the opportunity to present their work during conference-style sessions organized by topic panels. These sessions provide a chance to share your research with the summer school faculty and fellow participants and receive valuable feedback, regardless of the stage of your project.
Social events
This summer school provides opportunities to exchange ideas and connect with other participants in Lyon, on the ENS campus. Lunch is included each day, providing time for informal moments to share and discuss. Participants are also invited to welcome drinks on Day 1 and a group dinner on Day 2.
Fees & registration
Total cost: 750€
Please note that the registration fees does not cover the accommodation during the Summer School. You will also need to budget for a number of expenses not covered by the program fee, including transportation to and from Lyon, and meals not included in the program fee (dinner on Day 1).
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How to Apply
To apply, please send an email to econ.summer.school@ens-lyon.fr with the following documents attached:
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CV
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Research Proposal (maximum 2 pages) including:
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Your field of interest
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Your research question and project stage
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Intended contribution and links to the literature
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How the summer school can support your research
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Timeline
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January 15, 2025: Applications open
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February 28, 2025: Applications close
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Mid-March 2025: Notification of decisions
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End of March to Mid-April 2025: Registration and payment period