The Gerken Fellowship supports juniors majoring in Politics, DWA, Economics, or UEP by funding full-time research on public policy issues of significance to Los Angeles or the United States.
The fellowship provides two primary funding options: (1) financial support for 10 weeks of on-campus summer housing or (2) funds for research-related travel for the presentation of their work in a way that attempts to influence policy. Please note that these options are mutually exclusive; if your research requires travel, you will not be eligible for subsidized on-campus room and board. Applicants must clearly detail their specific travel plans and housing requirements within their proposal. Fellows are expected to present their work at the SRP Conference, as well as submit an abstract, report, and thank-you note.
Interested students should apply using the Occidental Summer Research Program process. Applications are due on February 2, 2027, by 5:00 pm. Visit the SRP Fellowships page for the link to the application form.
For further guidance, please contact Regina Freer, Politics Department Chair. Questions about the application process can be directed to the URC.
Previous Gerken Fellows
| 2026 | Simone Maher, Linking California Public School Facility Financing to Tree Canopy Coverage: Wealth and Race-Based Inequities to Climate Mitigation and Adaptation |
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| 2025 | Graham Luethe, Learning From the Resilience of Native Plants: Eaton Fire Case Studies and Policy Implications |
| 2024 | Mara Schwob, The Effect of Overdose Prevention Centers on the Fatal Overdose Rates in New York City Peter Vartanian, Energetic Endeavors: Power, Strategy, and Law in the Green Transition |
| 2023 | Jennifer Baidon Carrillo, Spanish and Bilingualism in the US: A Study on New Generation Latinos Hannah Christensen, Love Thy Neighbor? Evangelicalism and US Refugee Policy for Iraq and Syria |
| 2022 | Mary Hancock, The Effects of Rail Expansion on the Labor Market Outcomes of Disabled People Sophia Laycock, How an Increase in Childcare Burden Affects Time Use Decisions and Labor Market Outcomes of Married Mothers and Fathers: Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Mia Hernandez, Miguel the Criminal, Jimena the Refugee: How an Immigrant鈥檚 Gender and Reasons for Migrating Affect Public Opinion on Immigration |