Student Summer Research Grants

Are you interested in exploring the dynamics of democratic backsliding, democratic resilience or authoritarian consolidation?  

The Rohatyn Center’s program in Autocracy and Democracy announces its initiative to support student projects and research on autocracy and democracy, as it is broadly understood. The program will award two to three students grants of up to $4,000 each to finance their summer project. 

These grants are generously supported by the Cangiano Family in memory of Leon M. Cangiano, Jr., ’63.

Eligibility:

Open to rising seniors and juniors with a demonstrated interest in autocracy and democracy in disciplines such as political science, history, sociology, anthropology or relate fields. 

Project Expectations:

Selected projects should result in either:

• A senior thesis or independent study in the following academic year. Students should register for this course in the Spring semester before doing their research in the Summer. Note: grants to fund Senior Thesis and Independent Study projects will be disbursed upon proof of registration in the appropriate 700 or 500 level course.
• A public facing output, such as a podcast, blog series, visual exhibit, policy brief, or community engagement initiative. 

We also encourage students to offer public-facing contributions based on their thesis or research project. For all projects, we expect a clear contribution to scholarly or public understanding of democratic erosion, resilience, or authoritarian governance. 

Application Requirements: 

• A project proposal outlining your research question, methodology, and intended outcomes (2 pages max)
• A letter of support from a faculty member who would advise on the research project
• A resume or CV
• An itemized budget for your expenditures