PIPS Research Associate

PIPS is looking for sophomores and juniors who are interested in conducting international security policy research. Successful applications have outstanding writing skills, excellent analytical ability, the capacity to conduct independent research, superb time management, self-motivation, and responsibility.

Students selected to be PIPS Research Associates will:

Enroll in a three-credit course during the fall and spring semesters. The course will meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 – 1:50 PM.
Interact with members of the policy community visiting William & Mary or through travel to Washington, D.C.
Participate in a research team led by an undergraduate PIPS Fellow during the academic year.
Present their work to policy analysts and officials at a variety of venues.
The estimated workload for a PIPS Associate during the fall semester is 10 hours per week and for the spring semester is 10-15 hours per week
For more insights into the program, visit the Student Endorsements page of this website. Note: In previous years, the program had PIPS research interns that supported a project in the spring semester. PIPS Research Associate is an upgraded position that involves working on a project for the entire academic year.

Eligibility Requirements

PIPS Research Associate applicants must:

Have a minimum 3.7 cumulative GPA. (No exceptions will be made.)
Be a rising academic sophomore or junior.
Be a full time William & Mary undergraduate student during the academic year
Students cannot participate in the program if they are away for study abroad during the fall or spring semesters.

Preference will be given to applicants who:

Can demonstrate a strong prior interest in international relations (e.g., by having taken courses on international relations, foreign policy, completed classes on regions of strategic interest to the United States, and/or completed internships in fields related to the study and practice of IR, etc.)
Can demonstrate strong knowledge of current events in international relations.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following required material to the PIPS Research Associate listing in Tribe Careers. Search for PIPS to find the listing.

Required Material:

PIPS Associate Application Form. To save your completed document, “save as” and use the file name formatting listed below.
Resume, which includes cumulative and major GPAs and graduation year.
A 5-page writing sample from a previous class, an excerpt from a larger document is acceptable.
Applicants will list two potential references on the Fellowship Application Form. Do not include letters of recommendation in the application.

The submission deadline for the 2026-2027 academic year is Friday, August 1, 2026 by 5 pm. PIPS Associate selection is a two-step process that begins August 2. The first step involves a review of applications and an initial down select to a short list of candidates. The second step involves online interviews. The program will notify applicants via email about whether they have been selected to interview. Students should regularly monitor their William & Mary email accounts. Applicant interviews take place approximately two to three weeks after the application deadline. Selected students will be given an override into the fall semester PIPS course and must register during the fall semester registration period.

If you have any questions, please contact the PIPS Director, [[dasmi2,Dennis Smith]].