Apply to the Liu Research Lab

Thank you for your interest in joining the lab. Before you begin, please read the key information for prospective members and the Applicant Manual, which explain what we do, what we expect, and how applications are evaluated.

The form takes about 30–45 minutes. Your text answers are saved in your browser as you type, so you can leave and come back on the same device. You will need a PDF of your résumé/CV; an unofficial transcript and a writing sample are optional.

Deadline: applications for Spring 2027 are due November 15, 2026. We review applications on a rolling basis after the deadline and will respond by email within two weeks.

1 About you

Full name *

Preferred name / pronouns (optional)

USC email *

Phone (optional)

Major(s) *

Minor(s) / concentration (optional)

Class standing *

Expected graduation *

Current GPA * No minimum, but see the Applicant Manual on GPA.

Semester you are applying to join *

How did you hear about the lab? (optional)

2 Background & skills

None of these are prerequisites. They help us match you to a project and a mentor.

Relevant coursework (statistics, research methods, data science, area studies, etc.)

Programming experience

Python

Language skills (especially Mandarin Chinese; note reading/speaking level)

Which of these sounds most like you? (pick any; see the “Skill Sets” section of the manual)

The Analyst — I want to master research design and data analysis to run my own studies.

The Fixer — I'm organized and reliable; I like keeping projects and people on track.

The Computational Researcher — I have (or want) data-science and programming skills to build datasets and pipelines.

3 Commitment

Please confirm you have read the time commitment and can meet it.

I can attend the weekly lab meeting on Tuesdays, 12:00–1:00 p.m. *

I can commit 5–10 hours per week to lab work in addition to meetings. *

I will enroll in two credits of POLI 498 (Research Experience) if admitted. *

I am interested in staying in the lab for more than one semester.

I would like help applying for Undergraduate Research Funds (e.g. Magellan).

Other major commitments this semester (jobs, athletics, leadership roles — optional)

4 Short-answer questions

Aim for roughly 150–300 words per answer. Your answers are evaluated for content and as a signal of how clearly you think and write, so proofread before you submit. Your draft is saved in this browser automatically.

Q1. Why are you interested in becoming a part of the Liu Lab? What do you hope to gain from the experience? *

Q2. After looking at the lab website, which research project is most interesting to you and why? *

Q3. Tell me a bit about what makes you tick, as it relates to the study of authoritarian politics, repression, or political conflict. * This can be an observation or question from following politics at home or abroad, a reading or unit in a class you found especially interesting, or the motivation for what you want to do after graduation. A fully formed research question is not expected — we want to know what interests you.

Q4. What skills or experiences do you have that would make you a valuable part of the lab? * Coursework in statistics or research methods, programming (R, Python, other), language skills (especially Mandarin Chinese), experience living in or studying a relevant region, and experience organizing people or projects.

5 Documents

Résumé / CV * (PDF, max 5 MB)

Unofficial transcript (PDF, optional — Self Service Carolina export is fine)

Writing sample (PDF, optional — a course paper you are proud of)

I confirm that the information above is accurate and that the short answers are my own writing. *