Summer Research Assistant at Stanford University

Position Overview:

Professor Shiran Victoria Shen is seeking highly motivated Summer Research Assistants to support research on China’s climate politics and policies. This opportunity is ideal for individuals planning to pursue further graduate studies (master’s or Ph.D.) in political science, public policy, environmental social science, or related fields. Remote work is accepted.

Faculty Supervisor:

Shiran Victoria Shen leads the China Energy Program at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and is a faculty affiliate at the Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conducting literature reviews and synthesizing background information
• Collecting, cleaning, coding, and managing data
• (If qualified) Preparing datasets, particularly for projects involving large language models (LLMs) and deep learning techniques applied to Chinese-language texts

Position Details:

• Hours: 20-40 hours per week (full-time preferred)
• Duration: June 1 - August 31, 2025
• Research assistants are encouraged to seek funding from their home institutions.

Qualifications:

• Strong organizational and analytical skills (required)
• Familiarity with large language models (LLMs) and deep learning techniques, particularly in natural language processing (NLP) for Chinese-language texts (preferred)
• Native-level reading fluency in Chinese (preferred)
• Experience with programming languages such as R and/or Python (preferred)
• Advanced undergraduates, master's students, and early-stage Ph.D. students are all welcome to apply.

Application Process:

To apply, please prepare the following documents:

1. A current resume/CV
2. A cover letter outlining your academic interests and goals
3. Your most recent academic transcript (unofficial copies are acceptable)
4. A writing or coding sample
5. Contact information for at least two (but no more than four) academic references (no letters required at this stage)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.