The Karsh Institute works tirelessly to understand, defend, and invigorate the institutions, practices, and cultural underpinnings that are the foundations of democracy. Through all our work—robust interdisciplinary scholarship, research and teaching, and vibrant programs and partnerships designed to engage the public and influence policy agendas—we are shaping a thriving democratic future.
Check this page frequently to learn about new job openings, calls for proposals, student positions, and other opportunities at the Karsh Institute of Democracy.
Karsh Institute Student Intern (Programming)
Open Until Filled
Anticipated Assignment Dates: August 25, 2025–May 17, 2026
The Karsh Institute of Democracy seeks a part-time, hourly wage undergraduate programming intern to support student-facing programming and event opportunities, including our signature three-day event, Democracy360, and the Civic Cornerstone Fellowship. Responsibilities include actively contributing to our student-outreach strategy, helping to coordinate program-related activities, providing support at in-person events, and supporting the writing of student-facing program materials, along with other programming-related tasks as needed. >>APPLY TO BECOME A STUDENT INTERN
Karsh Institute Research Assistant
Open Until Filled
The Karsh Institute is seeking a research assistant to support a mixed-methods study of the Karsh Institute’s Student Dialogue Fellowship, a program that seeks to address the challenge of political polarization by fostering engaged dialogue among ideologically diverse college students. The Fellowship equips participants with the competencies and character necessary for constructive conversations and meaningful engagement in public life by cultivating civic and intellectual virtues such as curiosity, intellectual humility, and open-mindedness.
Led by UVA Professor Rachel Wahl, the research component of the Fellowship will include a qualitative longitudinal study to evaluate how dialogue interventions contribute to students’ personal and civic development. The Research Assistant will work closely with Professor Wahl to assist with the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, including administrative tasks.
This role is ideal for graduate students or advanced undergraduates with a background in political science, public policy, sociology, or a related field. This position is dependent on grant funding and is open to current UVA students.
UVA Grad Students: 'Borders and Boundaries'
Karsh Institute of Democracy / DEM 7500 Fall 2025–DEM 7501 Spring 2026
Taught by Paulina Ochoa Espejo, John L. Nau III Professor of the History and Principles of Democracy
Students will each receive a $1,500 research stipend and will become fellows of the Nau Lab for the 2025–2026 academic year
Borders and boundaries are central to the modern world. But why do they matter so much? Why is it so hard to cross them, open them, or get rid of them? This interdisciplinary graduate course will ask these questions about territorial borders—and other boundaries. These questions challenge assumptions about immigration and the differences between natives and aliens, but they also show how national and territorial borders relate to other conceptual divides, such as those between nature and culture, the sacred and the profane, or civilization and barbarism. How have these distinctions shaped the modern state’s views on controlling territory? How do these boundaries shape colonialism, membership, sovereignty, the unity of the nation state? And how do they mold our thinking about the rights of indigenous peoples and of the Earth, or about the limits between the human and non-human worlds?
We will seek answers to those questions from the viewpoints of several disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. >>READ MORE ABOUT THE 'BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES' COURSE
Karsh Institute Civic Cornerstone Fellowship
Deadline: September 1, 2025
In a hyper-partisan political climate, it can be hard to be politically engaged, especially with those who hold opposing viewpoints. Now in its second year and built upon the insights of the inaugural cohort of nearly 300 UVA students, the Student Dialogue Fellowship was designed to address this challenge.
UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy invites students from all backgrounds and experiences to apply for the Student Dialogue Fellowship, which will bring together multiple cohorts of UVA graduate and undergraduate students for monthly convenings over shared meals in the fall of 2025.
This program is hosted by the Karsh Institute of Democracy in partnership with UVA’s Student Affairs, Contemplative Sciences Center, College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Darden School of Business, Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Public Service Pathways, School of Data Science, and School of Education and Human Development. >>APPLY TO BECOME A CIVIC CORNERSTONE FELLOW