Summer Research Assistantships

DEADLINE: April 1, 2026

The Center for International Studies and the POIR PhD office have limited summer funds to support PhD students seeking summer research assistantships ($3,500).

This award is available to all PhD students (years 2–6 as of August 2026) who will be enrolled in fall 2026. Students graduating in summer 2026 are not eligible for summer funding.

Please fill out the 2026 Summer RA submission form, where you will be asked to submit the following items:

• Your CV
• A brief description of the research interests and skills you seek to develop
• A rank order of three faculty you would like to be matched with (or indicate if you need assistance matching you with a faculty member).
• Your dissertation advisor will need to fill out an endorsement form on your behalf here. If you do not yet have an advisor/chair, you will need to obtain an endorsement form the Director of Graduate Studies.

Payments to students will be made via Workday (timesheets) in three monthly installments over the summer.

The deadline for applying for funding is April 1, 2026.

Upon confirmation of a match, CIS and the POIR PhD office will follow up with each student and faculty mentor to communicate guidelines and expectations for the research assistantship.

Please refer to our FAQs about Summer Research Assistantships: we have a list of FAQs from faculty as well as FAQs from PhD students about the program.

Please direct any additional questions to Matt Stevens (cis@dornsife.usc.edu).

The Center for International Studies remains committed to ensuring equity in its mission to support scholarship in international studies.