About Us

We’re an innovation hub for urban scholarship, bringing together researchers from many disciplines to develop and nurture bold new thinking about cities and what makes them successful.

“Whenever and wherever societies have flourished and prospered rather than stagnated … creative and workable cities have been at the core of the phenomenon.”

Jane Jacobs

Successful cities are key to successful societies. Throughout history, cities have represented the vibrancy and ingenuity of humanity by uniting diverse populations and fostering innovation, ultimately enabling societies to flourish. At the Mansueto Institute, we are building on the proud tradition of urban scholarship at the University of Chicago, bringing together ideas and groups to advance research, convene events, and offer opportunities to students, faculty, and others:

Seed Innovative Research We identify and support the best ideas when they are poised to have an impact, aiming to produce innovative solutions. That’s why we work with partners throughout the University of Chicago to discover promising research across disciplines and provide the support needed to launch these ideas and make a true difference in people’s lives.

Foster Diverse Approaches Our work takes a variety of forms. This includes developing research and initiatives with partners across UChicago and beyond; outreach and collaborating to identify and advance the needs of community; analyzing and presenting data so it makes a meaningful impact on policy questions; bringing together a variety of stakeholders for events on critical issues, from affordable housing to the impact of climate change on cities; training University of Chicago students to better serve and lead the cities of the future through a variety of fellowship and research opportunities; and communicating our work to media, communities, policymakers, and the general public.

Create Partnerships We work with various schools, departments, centers, institutes, and other units across campus and outside of the university to leverage our resources to turn urban scholarship into impact. At the University of Chicago, we aim to foster a vibrant urban ecosystem. Beyond our walls, we work with community partners, government, the private sector, and others on a variety of efforts to promote a successful urban future.

Student Opportunities

The Mansueto Institute offers or co-sponsors a variety of opportunities for students who are interested in cities. We offer the following fellowship: the Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Kreisman Initiative for Housing Law and Policy Fellowship, the Urban Doctoral Fellowship, and the Local Data Journalism Initiative. Additionally, research assistant positions are available in our Environmental Frontiers Campus, and we offer Urban Innovation Grants for Student Organizations. Check our Opportunities page, subscribe to our monthly newsletter, and follow us on social media to get notified of opportunities as they become available.​

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