Students | Uscspec

Copy%20of%20SPEC%20Logo_edited.jpg

The SPEC Lab

Undergraduate Team Leads

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Cameron Kostopoulos

Cameron Kostopoulos is a sophomore at the University of Southern California studying Film & Television Production with a minor in Future Cinema. At the SPEC Lab, Cameron uses his skills in motion graphics editing to translate academic findings to a more general audience through consumable media. Outside of SPEC, he works to reevaluate the role of media in our postmodern society, as well as push the limits of video as a medium in a modern context.

Jack Schwartz is a Sophomore majoring in Economics with plans to pursue a progressive Masters in Public Policy. He started his time in SPEC on the Truth, Justice, and Reparation team but now works on the Trade Policy team. He is interested in urban policy, social justice, and international trade and development. On campus, he works as a Resident Assistant and has written for the Daily Trojan. He is a member of Phi Sigma Kappa and the USC Economics Association. Last summer, he worked in the Urban Institute's Housing Finance Policy Center. He joined the SPEC Lab in January 2018.

Taylor Dufour is a junior majoring in Economics/Mathematics and minoring in Computer Science. Her interests include the causes and effects of wealth distribution as well as the politics of immigration. On campus, Taylor is a member of Applied Statistics Club and the Undergraduate Economics Association. Last summer Taylor interned at JPMorgan Chase. Taylor joined SPEC lab in January 2017.

Shir Attias is an International Relations and Political Economy double major at USC. Her research interests include gender in international relations, US Middle East foreign policy, Security Studies, and the intersections of domestic and foreign policy. In Spring 2019, Shir studied in the War Studies program at King’s College London. Looking ahead to summer 2019, Shir looks forward to interning for the House Foreign Affairs Committee, spending her second summer in D.C. Shir joined SPEC in January 2018.

Srividya Dasaraju

Srividya Dasaraju is a sophomore majoring in International Relations. Her academic interests include security and terrorism studies, international law, and the politics of climate change. On campus, she is on the Trojan Policy Debate Team, a delegate for USG’s Advocacy Council, member of Phi Alpha Delta, and Campus Events co-coordinator for SCIA. Last summer she worked for Senator Schumer in DC. Srividya joined the SPEC Lab in January 2017.

Robert Scalia is a freshman at the University of Southern California studying International Relations. His interests include human rights, security studies, and economic development. In addition to his work with the SPEC Lab, he is a member of the Trojan Club Wrestling team, the Prison Education Project, USC photography club, and Annenberg Radio News. Robert joined SPEC in January 2019.

Phuong Nhat Nguyen

Phuong Nhat Nguyen is a freshman double major in International Relations (Global Business) and Law, History, and Culture. She's interested in adding an Environmental Studies minor. Her interests include corporate social responsibility (CSR) as well as advocacy for minorities in academic and professional environments. On campus, Phuong is a part of the active competing team for Model UN, ranked #12 in North America. She is also an intern to the Consulate of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. She speaks English, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Chinese!

Nicole (Nikki) Jao is a junior at the University of Southern California studying International Relations Global Business with minors in Business Law and Computer and Digital Forensics. She serves as the Team Lead for the Powersharing project under the direction of Professor Graham. Her academic interests include conflict resolution, international justice, and cybersecurity. On campus, Nikki is involved in Marshall Case Team and Alpha Phi Omega, USC's co-ed community service fraternity. Nikki joined the lab in May 2017.

Michelle Liu is a freshman studying Business Administration and Mathematics. Her interests include finance, data analytics, public policy, and global business. Outside of SPEC, she is a technology research analyst in Smart Woman Securities, a KXSC radio DJ, and an active member of Trojan Anime Culture. This past summer, she worked at UC Irvine as an economics research assistant, studying historical markets and corporate welfare. Michelle joined the Power-sharing SPEC Lab team in January 2019.

Markus Sherman is a Junior at the University of Southern California with a major in International Relations and Global Business with a minor in East Asian Languages and Cultures concentrated in Chinese. On campus, Markus is the captain of USC Trojan Bhangra, a competitive Indian folk-dance team. He is also a Program Coordinator for the USC Dornsife Center for Active Learning in International Studies. Markus’s interests include international development, and human rights law. Markus Joined the SPEC Lab in January, 2017.

Loleï Brenot is a sophomore double majoring in International Relations and French, with a minor in Applied Computer Security. Her interests include counter-terrorism and security studies. In the past, she has interned under the Department of Defense’s Combatting Terrorism Fellowship Program. Next summer, she will be interning for Congressman Jimmy Panetta on Capitol Hill. On campus, she is an editor for the Southern California International Review, a tour guide for the Admission Center, a member of Tri Delta sorority, and a member of Delta Phi Epsilon, USC’s professional foreign service fraternity.

Graduate Students

SPEC Alumni