The International Policy Research Assistantship (IPRA) program provides Ford School students the opportunity to build practical skills while supporting new and ongoing faculty research. IPRA is administered by the Ford School’s International Policy Center (IPC) and made possible through the generosity of the Weiser Family.

Prof. Megan A. Stewart seeks (in-residence) Ford School of Public Policy BA majors and MPAs/MPPs to serve as part-time research assistants for the Fall 2025 term.  The selected candidates may be asked to continue work during the Winter 2026 term, contingent upon funding availability, and successful completion of Fall 2025 research tasks and IPC reporting requirements.

Prof. Stewart’s current research project examines questions surrounding radical power redistribution, linked to developments like democratization or gender equality, but also authoritarianism and war. In their support of Prof. Stewart’s research, students will conduct literature reviews on global cases involving the redistribution of political power.

Responsibilities

Students will have opportunities to conduct research-related tasks in support of the faculty’s ongoing project(s). Illustrative tasks include:

·         Identifying relevant sources in English and non-English sources;

·         Conducting case studies by reading secondary and primary literatures;

·         Identifying key information as determined in a coding document;

·         Completing the coding document as specified.

Start Date

The tentative start date will be Monday, September 8 or 15.

Other Considerations

·         If hired, students must agree to prepare a brief narrative report for IPC each term, detailing IPRA tasks and skills acquired. IPC may share this narrative report information publicly and with the Weiser Family, an IPRA donor, to demonstrate program impact.

How to Apply

Please submit a resumé and one-page cover letter as a single PDF file (required) via U-M’s Student Employment portal by Friday, August 22 (11:59pm). Do NOT submit these materials directly to the faculty supervisor or IPC staff.

·         Current and incoming (in-residence) Ford School BA majors and MPA/MPP students in good standing. PhD students and non-Ford School students are ineligible for this opportunity. Please note that the Ford School may provide academic standing-related information to faculty supervisors prior to making hiring decisions;

·         Students may only serve in one (1) IPRA position during a given term;

·         Availability to work between 10 and 20 hours per week on a regular schedule determined by Prof. Stewart and the students at the beginning of the semester;

·         Demonstrated interest in international policy required. Interest in global conflict and security issues a plus;

·         Proficiency in one or more foreign languages preferred, ideally Portuguese, Russian, or Mandarin;

·         Prior experience conducting literature reviews and/or data analyses preferred.