Research Opportunities at SIPA
We are often asked about research opportunities within the SIPA curriculum. Though much sought after, this part of graduate life continues to be widely misunderstood. Let’s clarify what is, and what is not, available to students who want to conduct research during their time at SIPA.
Research as an opportunity, not a feature
The first thing to clarify is that academic research is not a core element of any SIPA master’s program. As at many graduate schools, there is no direct pipeline into research positions, and research is not a graduation requirement.
Nevertheless, while research is not built into the program, students can certainly pursue it on campus. The classic route is a research assistant position. Here, too, there is no set path: students should not expect a research opportunity to come their way without standing out in class, getting to know their professors, and building lasting relationships with faculty. Opportunities depend on faculty members’ current research and on how well a project’s needs match a student’s background and skills.
During my time at SIPA, opportunities came up in the Cybersecurity program to assist professors with cyber research, as well as in the International Security & Diplomacy concentration, where faculty were seeking research assistants for work related to the war in Ukraine. The opportunities exist, but you must position yourself to seize them when they arise.
Research in the classroom
Some classes give students the chance to produce research papers based on real data. Those interested in this route should consider courses such as Professor Dawkins’s Data & Conflict. It guides students through the ethics of fieldwork and data use, and includes simulations of planning for and navigating conflict environments while conducting research. More important, it requires students to produce a final project working with real datasets in R and ArcGIS. Students are encouraged and expected to align their projects with current internships or professional work, or to lay the groundwork for future research where possible. Many use the course as a structured path toward deliverables outside the classroom, and it is a solid starting point for anyone hoping to enter the research field with little or no prior experience.
Going it alone: Funding for research
Formal research assistantships are not the only way to pursue research. A strong alternative to working directly with professors is to pursue research on your own.
The Harriman Institute provides financial support for research projects, travel, and internships for graduate students across the entire university through a variety of grants and fellowships. Its website has a comprehensive list of opportunities, and I highly recommend checking it out. Likewise, the Weatherhead East Asian Institute offers funding opportunities for research, language study, unpaid summer internships, and dissertation write-ups. The Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy may also offer research funding options.
These can be good alternatives to traditional research assistantships for supporting your research or related travel, though publishing and disseminating your work will likely be harder than it would be with a faculty-led project.
The thesis alternative to the Capstone
Finally, students considering a PhD should look into completing a master’s thesis instead of the Capstone. For MIA students, this option is built into the program: you can request to complete a thesis rather than the Capstone. This pathway is not available to MPA students, who are required to complete a Capstone project in keeping with the nature of the MPA programs.
Students interested in pursuing a thesis must apply in the fall and will be notified of their admission status before the Capstone application deadline.