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Dear EPDers,
This week's newsletter includes:
- 2 Research Assistant Opportunities
- Fall Graduate Assistantship (Comms, Marketing, and Administration)
- Opportunities on SIPAlink with Approaching Deadlines
- Faculty Spotlight
- Student Summer Story
- Book & Film/TV Recs
- What's Happening in New York City!?
2 Research Assistant Opportunities
1. RA position at the Center for Global Energy Policy working directly with Senior Research Scholar, Harry Verhoeven
Senior Research Scholar, Harry Verhoeven's work focuses on the political economy of climate change, international relations and the linkages between water, energy and food security. His regional focus is on Africa, the Middle East and the Western Indian Ocean.
He is requesting support with the following research topic: International politics of climate change and climate change adaptation, including by analyzing debates in the United Nations; World Bank, IMF and African Development Bank programmes pertaining to responding to climate change; and compiling and dissecting statistical and qualitative material regarding bilateral development assistance initiatives.
Skills required: Interest or background in environmental policy, climate change and/or political economy of Africa. Fluency in French, Amharic and/or Arabic desirable but not essential. Familiarity with the functioning of UN agencies and multilateral development banks/international financial institutions is useful.
Students can send an email to this address, cgephr@columbia.edu, with a copy of their resume and stated interest in working with Dr. Verhoeven.
2. RA to work directly with Dr. Hollie Russon Gilman through the think tank New America
Looking for an RA to assist with research on a new line of inquiry into collaborative governance (co-governance) -- where advocates, policy makers, and bureaucrats and everyday people come together to strengthen our democracy and foster new decision making models.
Details:
RA with strong research and writing skills and interest in public policy for more equitable outcomes to conduct interviews, background research, write case studies on this exciting and important new field to improve our democracy. We are amplifying co-governance as a model to inform policymaking within local communities, cities, and at the federal level with the Biden-Harris Administration. The person would work directly with Dr. Hollie Russon Gilman through the think tank New America and would work remotely. Please email gilman@newamerica.org
5-10 hours per week
$25 hour
Start time Mid August/Early September
Fall Graduate Assistantship (Comms, Marketing, and Administration)
The Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement (UGE) is working closely with Columbia Global Centers and Columbia World Projects to bring a new level of engagement for undergraduates. Through the Global Columbia Collaboratory (a.k.a., GCC and Collaboratory), students will learn more about global challenges, enhance their global competencies by connecting and cooperating across a global network, and empower them to make a difference in the world as global citizens.
UGE is hiring graduate assistants to support the administrative and operational functions of the Collaboratory. This position is for a virtual exchange and all work associated has been done virtually/remote up to this point. As the University resumes in-person activity, we will be assessing the needs at that time. This position is an excellent opportunity to learn the administrative side of an undergraduate program and be a part of an innovative global virtual exchange.
Responsibilities
ÔùÅ Documenting and organizing student work
ÔùÅ Provide logistical support with virtual webinars
ÔùÅ Assist in marketing & communications efforts through the development of a range of media assets to promote GCC events
ÔùÅ Assist with grant writing as needed
ÔùÅ Perform special projects and other duties as assigned
Application Detail
Application Deadline: is August 6, 2021. Please apply early to ensure consideration and to avoid the position being closed by the employer.
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply send your resume and cover letter to: Jill Burya, jill.burya@columbia.edu. Please include “GCC Graduate Assistant” in the subject line
of email.
Click here for more details of this opportunities
Opportunities on SIPAlink with Approaching Deadlines
Faculty Spotlight - Gizem Acikgoz
 Gizem Acikgoz is currently an adjunct faculty member at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and New York University's Politics Department, teaching courses on Politics of Sustainable Development; Leaders, Followers and Political Behavior; Revolutions; Foreign Aid and Nation-Building; Quantitative Methods; and Causal Analysis.
Acikgoz’s main research lies at the intersection of International Relations and Comparative Politics, applying game theoretic, experimental and quantitative methods to controversies in political and economic development. More specifically, she is interested in application of these methods to topics in sustainable development, intergroup relations, conflict, politics of violence, leadership, institutional change, and poverty alleviation.
Acikgoz studies the strategic and humanitarian considerations in aid giving, the political mechanisms contributing to revolutions and the context for political violence. Why is it that aid fails to promote democracy and growth in poor, autocratic countries? How does the emergence of new social media undermine authoritarian stability and hence affect revolutionary outcomes? What tools do leaders use to repress revolutions? Does repression instigate or impede revolutions? What is the impact of aid in revolutionary outcomes? What is the role of natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding), epidemics and pandemics in reducing or enhancing development opportunities? The answers to such questions require determining under a set of theoretically sensible constraints (such as, natural resources, inequality) what the chances of rebellion are given the cost of revolution. She looks forward to engaging in many discussions on these topics and cross-fertilization of ideas in the Politics of Sustainable Development class she will be teaching at SIPA this coming fall.
Acikgoz holds her undergraduate degree in Economics and Government from Cornell University, and her graduate degree in Politics from New York University. She is the recipient of Outstanding Teacher Award at New York University (2014), Hoover Institution Research Grant from Stanford University (2008), and MacCracken Fellowship from New York University (2004-2008).
Student Summer Story - Daniel Murphy
 Daniel is entering his second year at SIPA concentrating in Economic and Political Development and specializing in International Conflict Resolution and Management. He is originally from Boston but was living in Cali, Colombia before coming to SIPA last fall. This summer, Daniel is working as a research analyst at Ipsos Public Affairs on their sustainable development team. He works on three multinational studies run by the World Bank, the UN, and various private sector companies. He focuses on implementing monitoring and evaluation systems, both in terms of measuring impact and conducting ongoing monitoring work, and reporting out to stakeholders. He also works with the risk analysis team, focusing primarily on the impact of COVID-19 on several ongoing projects in Latin America and Africa.
Book & Film/TV Recs
 The Bad Muslim Discount - Syed M. Masood
Following two families from Pakistan and Iraq in the 1990s to San Francisco in 2016, The Bad Muslim Discount is an inclusive, comic novel about Muslim immigrants finding their way in modern America. It is 1995, and Anvar Faris is a restless, rebellious, and sharp-tongued boy doing his best to grow up in Karachi, Pakistan. As fundamentalism takes root within the social order and the zealots next door attempt to make Islam great again, his family decides, not quite unanimously, to start life over in California. Ironically, Anvar's deeply devout mother and his model-Muslim brother adjust easily to life in America, while his fun-loving father can't find anyone he relates to. For his part, Anvar fully commits to being a bad Muslim. At the same time, thousands of miles away, Safwa, a young girl living in war-torn Baghdad with her grief-stricken, conservative father will find a very different and far more dangerous path to America. When Anvar and Safwa's worlds collide as two remarkable, strong-willed adults, their contradictory, intertwined fates will rock their community, and families, to their core. The Bad Muslim Discount is an irreverent, poignant, and often hysterically funny debut novel by an amazing new voice. With deep insight, warmth, and an irreverent sense of humor, Syed M. Masood examines universal questions of identity, faith (or lack thereof), and belonging through the lens of Muslim Americans. (Source: Amazon)
 Film: The Green Knight
An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight tells the story of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur's reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in what becomes a deeper journey to define his character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and kingdom by facing the ultimate challenger. From visionary filmmaker David Lowery comes a fresh and bold spin on a classic tale from the knights of the round table. In theatre now. (Source: A24)
What's Happening in New York City!?
 Travel Back In Time To The Roaring 20s At The Jazz Age Lawn Party
The Jazz Age Lawn Party has become a staple part of summer in New York City, and after a two-year hiatus, the Roaring Twenties soiree is finally back!
The Prohibition Era celebration that started out in 2005 as a small gathering of 1920s aficionados has been transformed over the years into one of the city’s most loved parties. Now in its 15th year, this party—which is grand enough for Gatsby himself—takes place on Governors Island twice during the summer season. It’s noted as the world’s original, largest and most authentic Prohibition Era-inspired event, and brings together thousands of time travelers each year. Coming after a lull in celebrations due to the pandemic, the Jazz Age Lawn Party taking place on August 14th and 15th will certainly be one for the books and bound to sell out quickly. See here for tickets and more infortmation. (Source: Secret NYC)
Summer Office Hours
Have any questions? Our Program Assistant, Saiful Salihudin MIA'21 holds office hour every Friday 9AM-10AM EST. Email him at sas2409@columbia.edu to make an appointment!
Best Regards,
The EPD Team
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