The IR Summer Research Program is coordinated by the IR Program Office and is designed to foster close intellectual exchange by engaging students in research with a faculty member on a new or ongoing research project. The program is a unique opportunity to undertake research with a faculty mentor and get paid for the work! Faculty projects will vary (see list of faculty project descriptions), and the IR Program Office will pair students with faculty members in their interest area. Students will also have an opportunity to learn about other research projects through the IR Summer Colloquium. The Colloquium will meet one to two times a week, and the faculty and student participants in the IR Summer program will present their research topics to the group.

Eligibility

Students must be current undergraduate students at Stanford, with a declared IR major (certain exceptions will be made). Freshmen and sophomores who have not yet declared are encouraged to apply. Co-term students and seniors are eligible only if the bachelor’s degree will not be conferred before the end of the research appointment.

Restrictions

The Research Program is a full-time program. Students should be taking no more than 5 units of class or working no more than 8 hours/week in another job while participating in the Summer Research Program.

Dates

The 2008 Research Program will run from June 23 to August 29 (tentative date).

Stipend

Each student will receive a stipend of $5200 for their research work. This stipend is based on full-time status or 40 hours per week for 10 weeks.

Housing

Students can apply for on-campus summer housing via Housing Assignment Services, and more information will be made available in mid to late March. Room, board, house dues, and other academic expenses are paid by the student, and you are required to purchase a meal plan. You are not required to live on-campus.

Application Deadline

Applications are due to the IR office (216 Encina Hall West) by Wednesday, February 20.

2008 IR Summer Research Topics

Lisa Blaydes
Public Opinion in the Middle East -- Islamic Fundamentalism and Anti-Americanism in the Muslim World

Larry Diamond
Liberation Technology

Gili S. Drori
Project 1: The Globalization of Professional Service Firms
Project 2: Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Stephen Haber
Taxation Systems and Rentier States: An Empirical Investigation

Phillip Lipscy
The Politics of Energy

Karen Long Jusko
Comparative Politics of Prison Reform

Mark Mancall
Gross National Happiness

Michael McFaul
International Dimensions of Democratization

Norman Naimark
The History of Genocide

Jonathan Rodden
Geography and the Evolution of Voting Behavior in Interwar Europe

Scott Sagan
Nuclear Latency

Ken Schultz
The Resolution of Violent Interstate Conflict