Our Story
We are a nonpartisan, student-run think tank at the University of Chicago, working to channel public policy interest into evidence-based, collaborative, and solution-driven projects.
Inspired by the life of Senator Paul H. Douglas, we promote public service through rigorous research, technical assistance, and partnerships with civic organizations, using a multidisciplinary and nonpartisan approach.
In 2017, PDI was co-founded by a group of entrepreneurial students seeking to fill the gap in student-organized public policy research on campus.
In 2018, PDI became a federally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and, in 2019, co-founded the Global Student Policy Alliance, uniting student-led think tanks worldwide.
Today, with over 50 active members, PDI has created more than 30 deliverables and collaborated with governments, advocacy groups, think tanks, nonprofits, and academic institutions across the US and internationally.
History of PDI
Guiding Principles
Policy
We care about national and social issues. Researcher interests ensure our policy work remains relevant and grounded in real-world concerns. We work towards common goals, building bridges and making policy creation more participatory, collaborative, and consensus-driven. We uphold ethics + democracy, advocating for transparent governance, protecting freedoms, and empowering civic engagement.
Leadership
We emphasize student leadership, empowering members to take initiative and explore their research interests with confidence. We equip members with the skills for rigorous policy research and ethical analysis through education, guided by faculty and practitioners. We foster a strong community, built on mutual respect, diverse perspectives, and substantive debate, ensuring members take pride in their work.
Research
We uphold rigorous and open inquiry, fostering the University of Chicago’s commitment to free expression, dialogue, and questioning. We are committed to non-partisanship, ensuring that our research remains free from political affiliation and bias. We prioritize evidence-based research,
grounding our policy work in data, careful analysis, and a deep commitment to intellectual integrity.
A special thank you to the co-founders and other student leaders who made PDI what it is today:
Abby Adigun, Pablo Balsinde, Arushi Bansal, Zara Chapple, Zarek Drozda, Jason Jacobs, Teddy Knox, Morton Lee, Beth Wang
The Paul Douglas Institute
policy@pauldouglasinstitute.org