About the program
What is the JFMP? The Junior Faculty Mentoring Program (JFMP) is a one-day workshop that pairs junior finance faculty with senior mentors for research feedback, networking, and career discussion. The program is an initiative of the American Finance Association (AFA), organized jointly with AFFECT (the AFA’s Academic Female Finance Committee).
Who runs the program? The JFMP is co-chaired by Michael Ewens (Columbia University) and Audra Boone (Colorado State University) and is governed by a 10-member board of senior finance faculty. The full roster is available on the Leadership and board page.
When and where is the next workshop? The 2027 workshop will be held on January 2, 2027, in Washington, DC, the day before the AFA Annual Meeting. The inaugural 2026 workshop took place on January 2, 2026, in Philadelphia.
Applying as a mentee
Am I eligible to apply? Applicants are eligible if they have completed a PhD, are at an early career stage, can provide a link to a research paper, and have not previously attended a JFMP workshop. Each individual may participate only once.
Can I apply from a non-US institution? Yes. The JFMP welcomes applicants from institutions worldwide. The 2026 cohort included mentees from institutions in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
How are applicants selected? All eligible applications enter a pool for random selection. Selected applicants are matched with their preferred mentor; each mentor is assigned three mentees. Selection is random conditional on mentor-match preferences.
When can I apply for the 2026-27 cycle? Applications are expected to open in mid-July 2026 and close in late August 2026, with acceptance notifications issued in early-to-mid September 2026. Prospective applicants should monitor announcements from the AFA.
What kind of paper should I submit? Applicants should submit a working paper where they are an author. Ideal submissions are those with only junior co-authors.
At the workshop
What is the format of the day? The workshop runs from 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM. The program is structured around three 90-minute small-group research sessions, a 90-minute career-networking panel, and a concluding Q&A session. Each research session brings together two mentors and their six combined mentees; mentees present their work and receive feedback from both mentors.
Are meals provided? Yes. Breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks are provided on-site.
Becoming a mentor
How do I become a mentor? JFMP mentors are primarily invited by the co-chairs. Senior finance faculty interested in serving in a future cycle are encouraged to contact Michael Ewens at michael.ewens@columbia.edu.