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Summer Undergraduate Research Assistants Program

Chloe Thurston

Junior Flannery Cusick worked with IPR political scientist Chloe Thurston in the summer of 2019 to evaluate how the use of special forces during the 1960s Civil Rights Movements impacted towns years later.  

IPR is committed to involving Northwestern undergraduates in its research enterprise. To this end, IPR has run its Summer Undergraduate Research Assistants (SURA) Program since 1998. The program gives students first-hand experience in the conceptualization and conduct of policy-relevant social science research.

The SURA program starts off with a course in statistical computing, and students spend the rest of the time working on real-time research projects with IPR faculty.

It is hoped that some RAs will continue to work for faculty during the following academic year and/or write honors theses that incorporate policy-relevant topics and research. To learn more about the SURA program, view the program flier here.

Program Details

Application Process

Current Northwestern first-years, sophomores, and juniors can fill out the application here. Students are advised to apply as early as possible, as faculty members can review applications at any time.

Selection criteria: Selection will be based on the student's record, the faculty member's proposed research, and the nature of work the student will do.

Learn More

Find about more about the actual experiences of IPR summer undergraduate RAs, including how their experiences have shaped how they think about social science research, in addition to their education and career plans.

Frequently asked questions

Information for Faculty

IPR faculty fellows and associates can email ipr@northwestern.edu for information.