Six Weeks Inside an Expert-Led Finance Research Desk.
A six-week small-group finance research program for five high-school students. Fellows attend one live 60-minute desk session each week: three market-focused sessions with Alex Dryden and three research-and-writing sessions with Dr. PK. Between sessions, each student develops a distinct question and completes an individually authored 2,000–2,500-word report, featured in the GRF cohort collection.
Applying is free and does not commit you to enrolling.
Three people support every Fellow.
Alex leads three practitioner sessions focused on market judgment. Dr. PK leads three academic sessions focused on research, evidence, and writing. Aaditya manages the student experience, deadlines, feedback handoffs, and final publication review.
Alex Dryden
Former Executive Director, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Alex leads Weeks 1, 3, and 5. He helps Fellows frame a meaningful market question, interpret evidence, challenge weak assumptions, and defend a clear market view. His research focuses on sovereign defaults, currencies, and bond markets.
Dr. PK
Curriculum and Research Structure
Dr. PK leads Weeks 2, 4, and 6. He sets the standards for research questions, sources, argument, citation, drafting, and final academic review. His academic background includes Columbia University and UC Berkeley.
Aaditya Singh
Student Experience and Final Review
Aaditya monitors each Fellow's progress, coordinates feedback, keeps the cohort on schedule, and reviews the final work before it is featured on the GRF website.
Professional and academic backgrounds of GRF program leaders. GRF is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organizations.
One shared desk. Five individual papers.
This is a small-group research program, not one-to-one tutoring. All five Fellows join the same weekly session, but each student owns a separate question, argument, and final report.
Six live group sessions
Attend one 60-minute online desk session each week: three practitioner sessions with Alex and three academic research sessions with Dr. PK.
Your own question and report
Choose a distinct angle within the shared theme and receive structured direction on sources, evidence, drafting, and revision. No paper is co-authored.
Shared theme, separate conclusions
All five reports investigate one major finance theme from different angles. Fellows learn together while remaining responsible for their own analysis and writing.
A clear plan from question to final report.
Every week has one lead mentor, one milestone, and one concrete student deliverable. The live session sets direction; the research and writing happen between meetings.
Frame the market question
Understand the shared theme and choose a meaningful individual angle.
Define the research
Narrow the question and set the evidence and source requirements.
Build the market argument
Interpret the evidence and test whether the causal logic holds.
Draft with discipline
Organize claims and sources, then receive one structured academic review.
Defend the view
Face a practitioner challenge and address the strongest counterargument.
Present and complete
Defend the conclusion and make the final required corrections.
How does an entire country default?
The cohort studies how government debt, currency pressure, foreign reserves, and bond markets interact when a country can no longer meet its obligations.
- Debt Borrowing, refinancing, and debt sustainability
- Currency Exchange-rate pressure and capital flight
- Reserves What central banks can and cannot defend
- Bonds Yields, spreads, and the market price of default risk
Work that is useful after the program ends.
GRF features completed student reports on its own website in a cohort Research Desk collection. This is a program showcase, not publication in an independent academic journal.
For college applications
An original report gives students a concrete activity to discuss in essays and interviews. It shows sustained interest, analytical writing, independent thought, and follow-through.
For future opportunities
The report can serve as an early work sample when students later pursue finance clubs, university research, internships, or other competitive programs.
For personal confidence
Students learn to ask a focused question, work with difficult evidence, defend a conclusion, accept criticism, and complete a substantial piece of writing.
A defined six-week program. No vague access promises.
Fellows should plan for 6–8 hours per week: one live 60-minute group session plus guided research and writing between meetings.
Six live sessions
Three market-focused sessions led by Alex and three research-and-writing sessions led by Dr. PK.
Structured expert feedback
Question and evidence-plan direction, one substantial draft review, a practitioner challenge, and a final academic-standard check.
A finished body of work
Your individually authored 2,000–2,500-word report, a place in the GRF cohort collection, and a Certificate of Completion.
Built for finished work, not passive participation.
Research programs can look similar from the outside. Families should compare how much individual attention, authorship, feedback, and concrete work a student actually receives.
Program structures vary. This comparison explains the specific operating choices built into GRF.
Apply for one of five seats.
Prior finance coursework is not required. GRF looks for curiosity, reliability, clear written communication, and a willingness to revise work after feedback.
- StartsSeptember 14, 2026
- Length6 weeks
- Tuition$1,000
- Financial aidChoose 0%, 25%, or 50% consideration
- DecisionApplications reviewed on a rolling basis
Student application
Complete each section in order. Required fields are marked with an asterisk.
Submitting is an application, not a payment. GRF will contact the student and parent or guardian before any enrollment decision.
What students and parents need to know.
Is prior finance experience required?
No. Students need curiosity and the ability to read and write carefully. The opening materials provide the finance background required for the shared research theme.
How much work is required?
Students should plan for 6–8 hours per week: one 60-minute live group session plus guided research, evidence work, drafting, and revision between meetings.
When are the live sessions scheduled?
Applicants provide their time zone and availability. Once the five seats are confirmed, GRF sets one recurring 60-minute weekly slot around the accepted Fellows’ schedules and shares the full calendar before the program begins.
What if a Fellow misses a session?
Every live session is recorded, and enrolled Fellows receive the recording. The GRF team is available afterward to answer questions, clarify the material, and help the Fellow stay on track. Recordings are shared only with the enrolled cohort and are not for redistribution; parent or guardian recording consent is confirmed during enrollment.
What happens after a student is accepted?
GRF sends the student and parent or guardian a written offer, any financial-aid decision, enrollment details, and the proposed live-session schedule. Applying is free and tuition is not charged at application. After the seat is accepted, the Fellow receives onboarding instructions, the program calendar, research expectations, and the opening source pack.
Who owns the report, and how does publication work?
The Fellow retains the rights to their original work. After final review and any required student and parent or guardian consent, GRF may feature the completed report in the cohort collection on its own website. This is a program showcase, not publication in an external academic journal.
What are the academic-integrity and AI rules?
Each report must reflect the Fellow’s own research, reasoning, and writing. Plagiarism, fabricated evidence, or presenting AI-generated analysis or prose as the student’s own is prohibited. AI tools may not replace the Fellow’s analysis or writing; any permitted use must follow GRF guidance and be disclosed when requested.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
Applications are free. Before services begin, families may request cancellation; if approved, GRF may deduct an administrative amount of up to 10% plus non-recoverable processing costs. After services begin, fees are generally non-refundable unless GRF agrees otherwise or applicable law requires. If GRF cancels without a reasonably comparable alternative, the unprovided portion receives an appropriate refund or credit. See the full Terms of Service.
Five students. Three program leaders. Six weeks of serious finance research.
Finish with an individually authored report, a shared GRF cohort collection, and a Research Fellow Certificate of Completion.