The Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service are now accepting applications for the 2015-16 Next Generation Scholars program. There will be an information session on the program Tuesday, February 24th from 12:15-1:30pm in SRH 3.122 (more information on our website). There will be an additional information session in late February or early March in the Liberal Arts Building; stay tuned for more details.
The Next Generation Scholars (NGS) program was launched in 2010 with the goal of providing new research and mentorship opportunities for promising UT undergraduate students interested in careers in international security and law. In 2015, the NGS program will expand to include a focus on civic engagement through a partnership with the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, expanding the reach of the program by engaging more students and involving faculty members on a wider range of local, national, and international policy issues. Involving undergraduates in international affairs and civic engagement early in their career is an important part of the Strauss and RGK Centers’ mission to prepare the next generation of leaders to help develop solutions to the most pressing public policy challenges.
Program Components
This one-year program includes two key components: First, students will take a 3-credit research training and professional development course, taught in the Fall of 2015. This course is designed to introduce students to policy work, including basic skills in policy research, analysis, and writing. Students will be trained on designing research strategies and proposals, conducting policy analysis, writing resumes and statements of purpose, crafting op-eds and blog posts, and planning for the steps in their career development. Students selected for the program are required to enroll in PA 325. This course will be led by Dr. Catherine Weaver, LBJ School Associate Professor of Public Affairs and Strauss Center Distinguished Scholar.
Second, the program also matches each selected student with a research agenda underway by a Strauss Center Distinguished Scholar or RGK Center Faculty Fellow to provide opportunities to directly engage in policy-relevant research and practice skills taught in the fall course. Students will apprentice in their assigned research program for the Fall 2015 semester. Students who perform well in their research apprenticeship and the research training course in the fall will be eligible to then continue as a paid research intern for their respective faculty members at the Strauss or RGK Center in Spring 2016. Students promoted to full intern positions will be expected to commit approximately ten hours per week during the spring semester and will earn a stipend of $500 for the spring semester. Students may use this stipend for independent research, travel to a study abroad program or summer internship, travel to a professional conference, or other experiential and scholarly pursuits approved by Dr. Weaver. Funding permitting, and contingent on positive performance evaluations, students may have the possibility of continuing as research interns at the Strauss Center after the year-long Next Generation Scholars program concludes.
More details and application available here.