IMPORTANT Information for new applicants (for Fall 2013 entry-please read prior to applying) click here

PIER is an interdisciplinary pre-doctoral training program at Carnegie Mellon University aimed at preparing a new generation of researchers who will be:

(a) grounded in cutting-edge theories and methodologies in cognitive and developmental psychology, statistics, human-computer interaction and instructional technology.

(b) familiar with many of the fundamental problems facing education in America.

(c) committed to applying their skills and knowledge to solving those problems.



PIER provides up to 5 years of pre-doctoral support (in the form of stipend and tuition) to students who enter through the graduate admissions process in any of several participating departments at CMU, including Psychology, Statistics, Philosophy, Human Computer Interaction, Machine Learing, Computer Science, and Economics as well as disciplinary departments such as Physics, Chemistry, and Mechanical Engineering, among others. (Although financial support is limited to U.S. Citizens or permanent residents, other qualified students may participate in PIER if they have other sources of support, such as various departmental fellowships and assistantships.)

More information is available in the program description (PDF).

You may also contact the PIER Program Coordinator:
Audrey Russo
Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA 15213 e-mail: ar3v@andrew.cmu.edu phone: (412) 268-4701 fax: (412) 268-2798

PIER Poster

This initiative is supported by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) in the U.S. Department of Education. PIER is one of several Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Training Programs supported by IES.