The Unruh Institute of Politics is committed to bringing the academy and the public square together. As such, the Institute offers a Research Internship course that allows students to conduct extensive research and analysis on policy issues facing local, state, and federal government.
About the Policy Research Internship
Students will have the opportunity to work directly with partnering organizations. Examples of partnering organizations from previous semesters include the NALEO Education Fund, Green Dot Public Schools, Los Angeles City Council Offices, and California Strategies.
Students take part in a team-based research project where they will work to develop solutions in their respective policy areas by conducting interviews with policy experts, review academic and policy reports, and other primary and secondary sources. At the conclusion of the program, each team presents their final product to the partnering organization.
Fall 2025 Research Projects:
“Building Future Leaders” with Future Caucus
The United States faces a growing challenge with its aging political leadership, as many of the nation’s most powerful elected officials are well into their seventies and eighties. While experience can bring valuable institutional knowledge, concerns have mounted about whether such advanced ages hinder responsiveness to today’s rapidly changing social, technological, and economic realities. The persistence of older politicians in office—often aided by high incumbency advantages and partisan polarization—can limit opportunities for younger generations to step into leadership, slowing political renewal and raising questions about representation in a country where the median age is far lower.
Students will conduct research on behalf of Future Caucus to address the questions: “What factors influence whether young candidates choose to run for Congress, and what barriers or advantages affect their chances of being elected? What changes should be implemented to help more young people get elected to Congress?” Students will concentrate on developing comprehensive data on young people running for congressional office in 2026. They will research how far young candidates advance in the electoral process and compare those who have held previous offices to those running for the first time.
Through research and data visualization—using tools such as infographics, spreadsheets, and more—students will compile their findings into a slide deck and final report.
Bi-weekly Meetings: Wednesdays from 10 – 11AM PT
“Modernizing EMS & Public Health” with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Public Safety
As public health challenges evolve, so too must the emergency medical services (EMS) systems that respond to them. This project explores how different states, regions, and international models deliver EMS and examines which approaches produce the best outcomes for patients.
Students will research and compare the structures, strategies, and funding models of EMS systems across the United States, identifying key differences in response times, workforce training, and access to care. The team will also study global EMS best practices to develop recommendations that could be adapted to the U.S. and address the core question: “What lessons can U.S. cities learn from non-American cities or regions of emergency medical services (EMS) to improve quality of care? And what policy recommendations could facilitate these improvements?”
Through research and data visualization—using tools such as infographics, spreadsheets, and more—students will compile their findings into a slide deck and final report.
Bi-weekly Meetings: Wednesdays from 2 – 3PM PT
Spots are limited and competitive. We encourage all interested USC students to apply.
To Apply:
The application for the Fall 2025 POSC 395 Policy Research Internship is now closed. The application for the Spring 2026 POSC 395 Policy Research Internship will open in January 2026.
Please send any questions about the Policy Research Internship to unruhins@usc.edu.