A Look into SIPA’s Research Centers and Institutes

As I've continued my conversations with new and prospective students, I've found myself receiving a similar question, “What is this [insert institute name] and what are the opportunities like there?” I thought that all the information being in one place would be helpful for new and returning SIPA students as they explore the research and student employment opportunities at SIPA. 

Below you will find a synopsis of each institute and any known opportunities for SIPA students! As always, if you have an interest in a particular institute and don’t see an opportunity listed here or on the website, I encourage you to contact them. Sometimes an introduction and a scheduled meeting can go a long way! Hopefully this can serve as a useful tool when you begin looking at research opportunities.

• Center for Development and Economic Policy (CDEP): This research center focuses on three main areas of development and economic policy: Human Capital Initiative, Firms and Innovation Initiative, and the Politics, Institutions, and Conflict Initiative. Each semester, CDEP hosts a number of events through their Development Seminar and the Development Colloquium. 
• Center for Environmental and Economic Policy (CEEP): This research center encompasses multiple affiliate Columbia Schools and Programs: The School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia Business School, The Earth Institute at Columbia, and the Columbia Department of Economics. Similar to CDEP, CEEP also has primary research focus areas, including Climate Change, Health Effects of Pollution, Ecosystem Services, and Policy Design. CEEP often hosts seminars in conjunction with CDEP. 
• Center of Global Economic Governance (CGEC): “was created with the recognition that without adequate global economic governance, there is a greater possibility of major crises and a tendency toward protectionism and political upheaval.” CGEC conducts research to generate ideas and disseminate them to policymakers and practitioners in connection with global governance. This center is also home to the BRICLab, which is a special forum for the world's fastest-growing economies: Brazil, Russia, India, and China
• Center on Global Energy Policy: CGEP conducts research in almost every climate-related area through the 20 themes they focus on, stemming anywhere from energy policy to critical minerals. This research touches on every region in the world and takes a particular focus on how current events shift the geopolitics surrounding energy. You can see more of their work on their Blog and Podcast which they update regularly. This institute hosts student lunches with experts almost weekly. CGEP also hires a number of student researchers throughout the year. Student research assistant positions stem from helping with literature review, background research, operations support, and more. To see more about the opportunities for student employment, click here. 
• Deepak and Neera Raj Center On Indian Economic Policies: This center focuses on India’s Economy and how to promote prosperity. The research is primarily conducted on gaining a better understanding of the Indian economy through analytical research and disseminating research findings to scholars, policymakers, practitioners, and students. Each year, the center hosts the Columbia Summit on Indian Economy where scholars and practitioners from across the world are brought together. 
• Institute of Global Politics (IGP): Our newest research center at SIPA! Founded in 2023 by Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo, IGP convenes leading scholars and practitioners to foster civil discourse and create evidence-based policy strategies for real-world impact. We are also committed to training the next generation of leaders, providing opportunities for Columbia students to build the skills needed to address complex policy challenges. There are opportunities to become student scholars through this program, where students gain unparalleled access to experts, develop hands-on experience in policy making, and engage in dialogue on global challenges.
• Saltzman Institute of War and Peace: Originally sponsored by former President Eisenhower when he was President of Columbia University, this research institute was founded “to promote understanding of the "disastrous consequences of war upon man's spiritual, intellectual, and material progress.” It has become one of the leading research institutes in international relations in the United States and takes on research in the various arenas that impact international relations, including political, military, historical, legal, economic, moral, psychological, and philosophical dimensions. The institute hosts panels and events each month pertaining to international security and international affairs. Each year, Saltzman has a small number of research and program assistant roles available for current SIPA students. 

Regional Institute: 

• In addition to the research institutes above, there are a number of regionally focused institutes that combine academic programs and research into one institute. If you decide to pursue a regional specialization, this specialization will be hosted through the various regional institutes. Each institute offers its own opportunities for current students. The list of regional institutes includes: 
  • Harriman Institute: Russian, Eurasian, and East European Studies 
  • Weatherhead East Asian Institute
  • Institute for African Studies
  • The European Institute 
  • South Asia Institute
  • Institute of Latin American Studies 
  • Middle East Institute