March 24, 2026
The National Bureau of Economic Research has awarded University of Nebraska\u2013Lincoln doctoral student Rebecca Jack a 2025\u201326 dissertation fellowship through its highly selective Gender in the Economy program.
The fellowship provides funding and mentorship to advance Jack\u2019s research examining how access to after-school care affects parents\u2019 ability to participate in the workforce. Each year, the program selects only three fellows from a national pool of doctoral students, typically representing institutions such as Harvard, MIT and Yale.
\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly validating to be selected,\u201d Jack said. \u201cA Ph.D. in economics is something I always wanted to do, and studying gender, families and children is something I care deeply about. To receive recognition like this makes me feel like the leap to pursue this path was worth it.\u201d
NBER is one of the world\u2019s leading nonprofit economic research organizations. Its Gender in the Economy program is directed by Claudia Goldin, a Harvard University professor who received the 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics for her groundbreaking work on women\u2019s roles in the labor market.
As part of the fellowship, Jack attended the NBER Summer Institute in Boston, an invitation-only conference that convenes many of the world\u2019s top economists. She participated in research sessions focused on gender and the economy and met with mentors including Goldin and Dartmouth economist Claudia Olivetti.
Jack\u2019s research focuses on a question that affects millions of working families but has received relatively little scholarly attention \u2014 what happens after the school day ends?
While most child care research centers on early childhood and education studies typically focus on the school day itself, the hours between school dismissal and the end of the workday remain largely unexplored.
Jack\u2019s project examines how the availability of after-school care programs influences parents\u2019 ability to work. Many such programs operate for only a few hours and are often housed in school buildings, making them relatively inexpensive and scalable.
\u201cIf access to these programs allows parents to work more and earn more, there could be substantial benefits,\u201d Jack said. \u201cIt\u2019s an area where expanding what already exists could make a real difference for families.\u201d
The research also leverages unique data resources available at Nebraska. This includes the U.S. Census Bureau\u2019s Research Data Center located on the university\u2019s campus, which allows researchers to work with highly detailed, restricted data.
Brenden Timpe, assistant professor of economics and Jack\u2019s adviser, said the fellowship recognizes both the importance of the topic and her approach to studying it.
\u201cThe cost and quality of child care are on the minds of a lot of families, businesses and policymakers these days, but solutions have been really hard to find,\u201d Timpe said. \u201cBecky is taking on these big, important questions in a creative way, and this award reflects the fact that her ongoing work has the potential to make a big impact.\u201d
Jack has built a network of collaborators and mentors, including Timpe and Daniel Tannenbaum, associate professor of economics.
\u201cBecky is an outstanding researcher, and we are lucky to have her as a Ph.D. student at Nebraska,\u201d said Daniel Tannenbaum, associate professor of economics. \u201cHer research stands out for its originality and for leveraging the strengths of the data resources on UNL\u2019s campus. During her Ph.D. studies, Becky has built an impressive portfolio of projects with collaborators across institutions.\u201d
Tannenbaum, a recent recipient of the Faculty Early Career Development Award from the National Science Foundation, noted the importance of Jack’s fellowship.
\u201cNBER fellowships are highly competitive, with applicants from the most prestigious institutions in the country, and only a few Ph.D. students receive them each year,” Tannenbaum said. “This is an exceptional achievement for Becky and for the university.\u201d
For Jack, the recognition also reflects the many people who have supported her work \u2014 from faculty mentors and collaborators to a strong personal support system. She noted how balancing doctoral research, conference travel and family life requires coordination and support.
\u201cIt really takes a network,\u201d Jack said. \u201cMy husband has been incredibly supportive, and we\u2019ve relied on so many people from family, neighbors and colleagues, and the Department of Economics here has been amazing. You need people in your corner, especially at the beginning of a career.\u201d
Jack plans a future in higher education following her time at Nebraska.
\u201cI\u2019d love to be a professor,\u201d Jack said. \u201cI enjoy working with students, teaching and doing research. Being a professor lets you pursue all of those things.\u201d
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