The International Political Economy Program is pleased to provide at least one grant of up to $4,200 to support student research each summer. Funding for the IPE summer grants comes from the Nicholas Vasilius IPE Endowment Fund. IPE majors are also encouraged to apply for Summer Research Awards provided by the University Summer Scholar and Richard Bangs Collier Scholar programs.
Since the application deadline is shortly after the beginning of the Spring semester, students are strongly encouraged to consult with potential faculty research supervisors and begin working on proposals early in the academic year in order to plan appropriately.
Terms and Conditions for the IPE Summer Research Fellowship
- Applicants must be IPE majors in good standing.
- The fellowship involves eight weeks of full-time work on a specific project during the summer months (usually but not always between the junior and senior year). The fellowship recipient may not enroll in summer classes, engage in other independent study projects, or hold any employment while engaged in research (an occasional exception may be made for limited part time employment; permission must be obtained from the Director of the IPE Program).
- The fellowship recipient must email a a written report to the Director of the IPE Program by September 21, 2020. Guidelines on the written report to be submitted.
- The fellowship recipient must give a presentation during the 2020-2021 academic year for the IPE Program’s Brown Bag Series. Fellowship recipients will be contacted by the IPE Director early in the academic year regarding the planning of the Brown Bag presentation.
A complete application will contain two copies of:
- Completed IPE Fellowship cover sheet.
- Project Statement. Applicants should describe the specific research planned for the period of the grant, explaining the research question, research methodology, and project timeline. Please limit to two single-spaced pages (12 pt. font).
- Personal Statement. A brief personal statement from the applicant that describes the preparation he or she has for carrying out the proposed work, and that explains how the research will contribute to his or her educational goals. Please limit to two single-spaced pages (12 pt. font).
- Letter of support from a faculty research supervisor. The faculty supervisor must agree to supervise the project.
- Bibliography. Applicants should include a one-page carefully selected bibliography of the texts of greatest relevance that will be used and a short listing of other resources or collections to be employed.
- A Puget Sound transcript (an unofficial transcript is OK)
- A budget detailing expected direct research expenses such as travel costs, research materials, etc. The purpose of this budget is simply to be sure that the total cost of your project will not exceed the amount of the grant. Your budget need not add up to $4,200.
- IRB approval. IRB Handbook, and IRB Instructions for IPE Students.
- Travel documentation (if necessary -- see IPE Fellowship cover sheet).
Completed applications must be submitted to Reggie Tison, IPE secretary (McIntyre Hall 213) no later than 12 noon on Friday, February 21, 2020.
IPE Summer Research Fellows
| Year | Fellows |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Jonah Kone, "An analysis of the economic, institutional, and social challenges of organic rice production by the Brazilian Landless Workers Movement (MST) in the metropolitan Porto Alegre region." Written report here. |
| 2019 | Abby Foy , "The English Language in The Gambia: The Intersection Between Identity and Economic Opportunities." Written report here. |
| 2018 | Sara Cohn, “Education as a Tool for Change in the NGO Community: A journey through Europe to understand and compare the way that NGOs work with and value education in humanitarian and developmental aid.” Written report available here. |
| 2018 | Amelia Colliver, “The New Nunca Mas: The Shifting Roles of Argentine Gender-Rights Activism in Creating Policy Change.” Written report here. |
| 2016 | Illeana Alexander, "The Runt of the Tiger Cubs: Exploring the Slow Rate of Development in the Philippines." Written report available here. |
| 2015 | Austin Scharff, "The Last Piece of the Balkans Puzzle: International Governance and Political Decay in the Republic of Kosovo." Written report available here. |
| 2015 | David Balgley, "Morocco's Fragmented Land Regime: An Analysis of Negotiating and Implementing Land Tenure Policies." Written report available here. |
| 2014 | Parker Raup, "Defending Pastoralism: Livelihood Diversification and Competing Currencies in Northern Tanzanian Maasailand." Written report available here. |
| 2014 | Megan Davis, "Empowering Change in Bangladesh: The Role of Microfinance and Social Business in Development Efforts." Written report available here. |
| 2013 | Kristin Gjelsteen, "The Politics of Transgenic Food: An Ethnographically Informed Analysis of the Ban on Genetically Modified Crops in Bolivia." Written report available here. |
| 2013 | Martin Klingbeil, "Lessons from KIWAKKUKI: The Importance of the "Human Network" in Sub-Saharan Africa and How to Use It in HIV Prevention and Local Development." Written report available here. |
| 2012 | Alison Hoover, "The NGO Pocketbook: The Purse Strings and Their Limits." Written report available here. |
| 2012 | Vienna Saccomanno, "Mining Indigenous Communities: The Impacts of Resource Extraction on Livelihood Stability, Environmental Sustainability and the Peruvian Economy." Written report available here. |
| 2011 | Sally Judson, "The Probability of Turkey's Accession to the European Union." Written report available here. |
| 2011 | Mike Knape, "Lithium Lessons: Chile and Bolivia as Models of Resource Industry." Written report available here. |
|
2010 |
Peter Bittner, Spain’s Economic Crisis: How Social Effects Lead to Political Opinions on Economic Policies |
| 2010 | Jeni Oppenheimer, A Bigger Bang (for the NGO Buck): Evaluating Alternative Orphanage Models in Tanzania |
| 2009 | Ryan Donahue, Transforming Integrated Conservation and Development: Alternatives to a State-Sponsored Green Revolution in Madagascar |
| 2009 | Kendle Bjelland, Local Food Networks: From Bourgeois Vanity Gardens to Grassroots Revolution |
| 2008 | Leigh Barrick, Analysis of the Failures of Fair Trade and Emigration in Chiapas |
| 2008 | Daniel Adler, Under the Radar: Sister Cities' Overlooked Role in Defining and Advancing Globalization |
| 2007 | Lan Nguyen, Brain Drain versus Brain Gain in Vietnam: Changes in Human Capital and its Effect on Development |
| 2006 | Emily Knudsen, Analysis of the Socio-economic Effects of Immigration on the Danish Welfare State |
| 2005 | Jen C. Davis, From Bangladesh to the Pacific Northwest: Adaptations and Innovations in Microfinance |
| 2004 | Cristie DeVoss, Terrorism in Southeast Asia |
| 2003 | Melissa Watson, Retracing the Mexican Migrant Experience: Tacoma to Oaxaca and Back Again |
| 2003 | Michael Severeid, Great Olympics, New Beijing: The Political Ramifications of Hosting the 2008 Summer Games in the PRC |
| 2002 | Patrick Egan, Transitions and Connections in Mongolia: The Meeting of Nomadic Pastoralism and the Institutions of the New Global Economy |
| 2001 | Ron Ringuette, Analysis of the Development of Anti-Globalization Movements after the Seattle WTO Protests |
| 2000 | Marina Green, Economic Crisis and Democratic Reforms in Thailand |
| 1999 | Sarah Garfunkel, International Enforcement of Human Rights: War Crimes Tribunal Study |
| 1999 | Colleen Dyble, Economic Development and the Status of Women in Spain |