Summer 2026 Named Fellowships - Complete
Each year, the Keck Center offers several fellowships in various research areas related to international and strategic studies. Students work remotely in teams to conduct research falling under one of the topics below. In summer 2026, the program involves direct collaboration with four professors: Dr. Hicham Bou Nassif, Dr. Jennifer Taw, Dr. Lisa Koch, and Dr. Hilary Appel. In eight weeks over the summer, fellows work in teams on a themed project with distinct deliverables under each professor. The 2026 Summer Program has ended. Please check back in Spring 2027 for Summer 2027 application details.
2026 Summer Topics:
Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century led by Professor Lisa Koch (Saturdays 8:30-10:30am Pacific) - William Crouch Fellowship in International Affairs
Great Power Rivalry in a Dangerous World, led by Professor Hicham Bou Nassif (Wednesdays 10am-12pm Pacific) - Harold W. Rood Fellowship in International Security
The Russia-Ukraine War, led by Professors Hilary Appel and Jennifer Taw (Thursdays 8:30-10:30am Pacific) - Peter Adams Research Fellowship
Summer 2026 Projects:
Hear from two of our Summer 2026 Named Fellowship participants!
Peter Adams Research Fellowship: The Russia-Ukraine War (Supervised by Professor Appel and Professor Taw)
Student researchers: Gabriel Buyuklyu, Alexander Davies, Ariana Hu, Ted Li, Faith Mack, Matthew Tupper, and William Wales.
Students focused on the current war between Russia and Ukraine. After four long years of fighting, the violence continues and a peace settlement remains elusive. The first four weeks were led by Professor Taw and students studied this war from a human security perspective (gender, the environment, disease, and loss). The second four weeks were with Professor Appel and required students to conduct research on the Russia-Ukraine war from a conventional security and political-economy perspective. Students will annotate readings on war in preparation for developing group research products in the second half.
Products linked by student to the right and by podcast/episode below.
William Crouch Fellowship in International Affairs: Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century (Supervised by Professor Koch)
Student researchers: Sydney Forsyte, Davin Khan, Andrew Lu, Bardia Mizani, Reanna Mohler, Maria Mukhar, Joseph Santhosh, and Winston Sun.
Student teams built a timeline of events for a 21st-century conflict in which the possible use of nuclear weapons loomed in the background. Each team then produced a podcast on some aspect of 21st-century nuclear deterrence. Our understanding of nuclear deterrence is based largely on histories and theories from the 20th century, and in particular from the Cold War era, when the United States and Soviet Union built arsenals of tens of thousands of nuclear weapons. But since the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991, and the end of the Cold War, much has changed, from technology, to the number of nuclear-armed states, to communication, to the size and precision of the nuclear weapons themselves. Do we need to update our understanding of nuclear deterrence today?
Podcasts are linked by student to the right and by podcast/episode below.
Harold W. Rood Fellowship in International Security: Great Power Rivalry in a Dangerous World (Supervised by Professor Bou Nassif)
Student researchers: Adiva Agarwal, Melissa Bracho, Prisha Kejriwal, Krish Malpani & Aarev Sheth, Wesley Nesbit, Matteo Quadrini, and Kimberley Rodriguez
Each student team produced two podcasts on a major conflict. The United States is yet again fighting in the Middle East while Russia is bogged down in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Taiwan remains a flashpoint and relations between Washington and Beijing are tense. Are we on the brink of WWIII? Why have international relations become so conflictual whereas the talk only a few decades ago was about never-ending liberal peace and the "End of History"? To address these questions, students studied one major conflict currently unfolding in the world, or a topic of great power rivalry, of their choosing.
Podcasts are linked by student to the right and by podcast/episode below.
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Episode 1 (Moldova) - This episode explores the evolving demographic trends and policy shifts surrounding Ukrainian refugee migration in the Republic of Moldova following the Russian invasion in February 2022. It examines the severe strain on local education systems, the marginalization of vulnerable groups navigating new digital bureaucracy, and the rise of Russian disinformation designed to spark social tension. Finally, the episode highlights human resilience through an inspiring interview with Olena Prysyazhniuc, a displaced Ukrainian who overcame immense hurdles to become a thriving entrepreneur, NGO founder, and community leader in Chisinau. Read more here.
Episode 2 (Romania) - This episode explores the transition of Ukrainian refugees in Romania from emergency transit to permanent resettlement, examining systemic challenges such as housing shortages, language barriers, and the double marginalization of the Romani community. The host is joined by Mihai Isac, a veteran journalist, political analyst, and Chief Editor of Karadeniz Press. During the interview, he discusses how broader regional security concerns, Russian disinformation campaigns, and Romania's domestic political instability directly impact the refugee population. Read more here.
Listen to the podcasts here.
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Memo 1 - Topics: Economic and strategic viability of Ukraine’s drone usage, transfer of drone strategy from Iran-Russia, drones as a negotiating strategy within both conflicts, closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting impacts within the United States. Read more here.
Memo 2 - Topics: Naval and maritime drones, alternative methods of drone counter strategy, AI within the context of both conflicts, proliferation of drone warfare beyond both conflicts. Read more here.
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Episode 1 - Memory Under Attack - This episode will be discussing how Ukraine’s collective memory is embedded in physical spaces, how destruction of these spaces threatens Ukraine’s long-term ability to remember itself, why the consequences are unbearable, and why institutional and international support are needed. Listen to the podcast episode here.
Episode 2 - Memory Under Occupation - This episode will be discussing Russia’s unlawful control over how Ukraine’s collective memory is transmitted in occupied territories, especially through means of education and forced passportization. It’ll also explore Ukraine’s collaborative resistance across institutions and civil societies, and at the same time critically evaluate its effectiveness. Listen to this podcast episode here.
Read more here.
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Memo 1 & 2 - This memo evaluates the economic cost of the Russo-Ukrainian War for Russia in the realm of agriculture and the food sector. Although Russia faces no prominent threat to its grain production as a direct result of combat, the war has increased pressure on Russian consumers through uneven food inflation across regions and products and increased tax hikes. Meanwhile, the war raised the cost of maintaining food production and distribution, as farmers and producers faced higher production costs, fuel shortages and supply chain disruption, sanctions of foreign technology, stricter loan options and reduced government subsidies. These pressures have also contributed to greater state intervention in the agri-food sector, including import quotas, asset seizures, and expanded control over food businesses, which creates greater price volatility and distrust from private individual investors. On the international stage, Russia’s strong grain and fertilizer exports still allow Moscow to maintain a geopolitical leverage over food-import-dependent countries.
Read more here.
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Memo 1 - Topics: Iran war, air defense systems, Patriot missiles, Ukraine-Russia war, U.S. munitions. Read more here.
Memo 2 - Topics: Operation Epic Fury, Ukraine's interception of Russian drones and missiles, Patriot missile interceptors, low-cost U.S. alternative weapons systems, AMRAAM, NASAMS, SAMP/T, IRIS- T SM, Ukrainian weapons procurement, and FREYJA Anti-Ballistic Missile Program.
Read more here.
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Russian Economic Impact - Topics: Inflation, fuel shortages and refinery attacks, the ruble, federal budget and fiscal toll, National Wealth Fund, oil and gas revenues, sanctions. Read more here.
Russian Public Reaction - Topics: Absence of economic protest, internet blackout and censorship timeline, public response to restrictions, analyst explanations for the asymmetry in public reaction. Read more here.
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Episode 1 - Cognitive Warfare in Russia - A brief history of cognitive warfare in Russia and an analysis of the evolution of cognitive warfare, propaganda, and digital manipulation over the course of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Read more here.
Episode 2 - Cognitive Warfare in Ukraine - A history and analysis of cognitive warfare strategies, both offensive and defensive, deployed by Ukraine over the course of the Russo-Ukrainian war domestically and abroad. What worked? What didn't? And where are they going next? Listen to the podcast episode here. Read more here.
Listen to the podcast here.
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Episode 3 - How to Survive the Apocalypse: Knocking Down a Nuclear Weapon - Missile defense is certainly an appealing idea, but is it really in our best interests? Tune in to learn more about the world of ICBMs, interceptors, and what exactly is the issue with missile defense. Read more here.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
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Episode 2 - Tactical Nuclear Weapons: Deterrence or Disaster? - In this episode, we'll unpack the blurred lines of "tactical" nuclear weapons, exploring how low-yield options and aggressive nuclear signaling challenge the nuclear taboo and risk sparking full-scale escalation. Read more here.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
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Episode 3 - Exotic Nuclear Weapons - In this episode, we'll dive into the world of exotic nuclear weapons and emerging tech, exploring whether hypersonics, nuclear-powered missiles, and advanced detection capabilities genuinely rewrite the rules of global deterrence or are just overhyped threats. Read more here.
Listen to the podcast here.
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Episode 1 - Grave Digger: Nuclear Deterrence When Leaders Die - What happens to nuclear deterrence when leaders die? Imagine a world where Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, or Kim Jong Un just drop dead. Two of these leaders are much older, and one has had persistent health issues.
Will each state take an offensive posture to protect itself or do the opposite because they believe they are in danger? That's what you are here to find out. Read more here.
Listen to the podcast here.
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Episode 1 - Entangled: Conventional-Nuclear Collisions - In this episode, you’ll dive into how conventional and nuclear weapons overlap through the idea of "nuclear entanglement" and see whether modern non-nuclear forces can actually deter a nuclear attack or if mixing the two just makes escalation way more dangerous. Read more here.
Listen to the podcast here.
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Episode 2 - Ready, Set, START: A Look into the Future - The most recent arms reduction treaty, New START, expired earlier this year after years of arms reduction treaties governing nuclear arsenals in the U.S. and Russia/the Soviet Union. Listen in to see what this means for the current era of nuclear weapons proliferation and the possibility for a future nuclear arms race. Read more here.
Listen to the podcast here.
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Episode 4 - Quantum Sensing: The Erosion of Submarine Stealth and its Effect on Nuclear Deterrence - In this episode, we'll examine how breakthrough quantum-sensing technology threatens submarine stealth, potentially stripping away the ultimate guarantee of a second-strike capability and destabilizing global nuclear deterrence. Read more here.
Listen to the podcast here.
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Episode 4 - Atomic Autonomy: AI, Human Judgement, and The Future of Nuclear Deterrence - Artificial Intelligence promises faster decisions, greater efficiency, and more capable military systems. But, what happens when those technologies become part of nuclear deterrence? Listen in as I examine how the United States, China, and India are integrating AI into their nuclear postures and explore what this could mean for strategic stability, human judgement, and the future of nuclear weapons. Read more here.
Listen to the podcast here.
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Listen to the podcast below.
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Episode 1 - China’s Economic Rise: From Reform to Global Power - In this episode, we explore China's remarkable economic transformation from the reforms of 1978 to its accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001. We examine the policies, leaders, global events and economic forces that turned China into the world's manufacturing powerhouse, reshaped international trade and laid the foundation for today's geopolitical competition. Through a balanced, data-driven approach, this episode explains one of the most significant economic stories of the modern era. Listen to this podcast episode here.
Episode 2 - The Quad: Can Four Democracies Balance China’s Rise? - As China's economic and military influence expanded, countries across the Indo-Pacific began rethinking their strategic partnerships. In this episode, we explore the evolution of the Quad (Australia, India, Japan and the United States) and examine its role in addressing challenges related to maritime security, technology, supply chains, critical minerals and regional stability. Through a balanced, evidence-based analysis, we assess the Quad's achievements, its limitations and whether it has meaningfully influenced the geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific. Listen to the podcast episode here.
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Episode 1 - Who Defends Europe? Autonomy, Ukraine, and the Far-Right - This episode examines whether Europe can defend itself and sustain Ukraine without the United States. It begins with the January 2026 National Defense Strategy, which recasts Ukraine as Europe's responsibility and Russia as a manageable threat, then assesses what genuine autonomy would demand: the steepest rise in European defence spending since the 1950s, a French nuclear umbrella roughly a fifth the size of the American one, and a Union that still decides foreign policy by unanimity. It traces Europe's postwar rationale for opposing Moscow and backing Kyiv, before turning to the harder question — what becomes of that consensus if France elects the National Rally in 2027. Listen to the podcast episode here.
Episode 2 - Two Armies, One Flag: Hezbollah and the Limits of Lebanese Statehood - This episode examines Hezbollah's uncertain future following the June 2026 Lebanon-Israel framework agreement and its demand that Lebanon establish a monopoly on the use of force — a standard Lebanon has never met. Drawing on Max Weber's theory of state sovereignty, the episode traces how Hezbollah emerged from Lebanon's confessional system, civil war, and Israeli occupation to become the world's most heavily armed non-state actor. With Hezbollah degraded but unbroken, Iranian influence waning, and three pilot disarmament zones already producing friction, the episode weighs three scenarios: an Iranian-brokered stand-down, a grinding stalemate, or indefinite continuation — and what each means for Lebanese statehood. Listen to the podcast episode here.
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Episode 1 - How Did We Get Here? The Russo-Ukrainian War - Your host, Wesley Nesbitt, breaks down The Russo-Ukrainian War starting with the annexation of Crimea in 2014, to the stalemate that holds strong as of July 2026, and provides analysis on the greater implications of the war and what it means for global order and the shifting balance of power between the world's great powers. Listen to the podcast episode here.
Episode 2 - Where the Future Lies: The Russo-Ukrainian War - Your host, Wesley Nesbitt, gives his insight and personal opinion on what the future of the Russo-Ukrainian War may look like. Listen to the podcast episode here.
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Listen to the podcast below.
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Episode 1 - Why Taiwan Matters? - Why is a small island of 24 million people in such a controversial spot of what true independent sovereignty means? In this episode, we delve into Taiwan's history, the U.S.'s relationship with Taiwan, and why it has become one of the most important geographic locations for Eastern Asia. Once again, thank you for listening! Listen to the podcast episode here.
Episode 2 - The Quiet Battle for Taiwan - When people picture the people of Taiwan, they often think of the threat of war. But what if China's strategy extends far more beyond that. In this podcast, we explore Taiwan's internal politics and China's influence campaigns to better grasp the different strategies Beijing may be using to shape Taiwan's future. Listen to the podcast episode here.
Read more here.
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Episode 1 - Who Defends Europe? Autonomy, Ukraine, and the Far-Right - This episode examines whether Europe can defend itself and sustain Ukraine without the United States. It begins with the January 2026 National Defense Strategy, which recasts Ukraine as Europe's responsibility and Russia as a manageable threat, then assesses what genuine autonomy would demand: the steepest rise in European defence spending since the 1950s, a French nuclear umbrella roughly a fifth the size of the American one, and a Union that still decides foreign policy by unanimity. It traces Europe's postwar rationale for opposing Moscow and backing Kyiv, before turning to the harder question — what becomes of that consensus if France elects the National Rally in 2027. Listen to the podcast episode here.
Episode 2 - Two Armies, One Flag: Hezbollah and the Limits of Lebanese Statehood - This episode examines Hezbollah's uncertain future following the June 2026 Lebanon-Israel framework agreement and its demand that Lebanon establish a monopoly on the use of force — a standard Lebanon has never met. Drawing on Max Weber's theory of state sovereignty, the episode traces how Hezbollah emerged from Lebanon's confessional system, civil war, and Israeli occupation to become the world's most heavily armed non-state actor. With Hezbollah degraded but unbroken, Iranian influence waning, and three pilot disarmament zones already producing friction, the episode weighs three scenarios: an Iranian-brokered stand-down, a grinding stalemate, or indefinite continuation — and what each means for Lebanese statehood. Listen to the podcast episode here.
Peter Adams Research Fellow Podcasts
Gabriel Buyuklyu - Episode 1 - Moldova: A Small Country with a Big Heart
Gabriel Buyuklyu - Episode 2 - Romania: Security and Solidarity in an EU and NATO State
Ariana Hu - Episode 1: Memory Under Attack
Ariana Hu - Episode 2: Memory Under Occupation
William Wales - Episode 1 - Cognitive Warfare in Russia
William Wales - Episode 2 - Cognitive Warfare in Ukraine
William Crouch Fellow Podcasts
Bardia Mizani - Episode 1. Grave Digger: Nuclear Deterrence When Leaders Die
Maria Mukhar - Episode 2 - Ready, Set, START: A Look into the Future
Sydney Forsyte - Episode 3 - How to Survive the Apocalypse: Knocking Down a Nuclear Weapon
Winston Sun - Episode 4 - Atomic Autonomy: AI, Human Judgement, and The Future of Nuclear Deterrence
Reanna Mohler - Entangled: Conventional-Nuclear Collisions
Davin Khan - Tactical Nuclear Weapons: Deterrence or Disaster?
Andrew Lu - Exotic Nuclear Weapons
Joseph Santhosh - Quantum Sensing: The Erosion of Submarine Stealth and its Effect on Nuclear Deterrence
Harold W. Rood Fellow Podcasts
Melissa Calderon Bracho - Episode 1: Venezuela and the Return of Great-Power Competition
Adiva Agarwal - Episode 1 - The BRICS
Adiva Agarwal - Episode 2 - The BRICS
Melissa Calderon Bracho - Episode 2: When Geopolitics Become Personal
Wesley Nesbitt - How Did We Get Here? The Russo-Ukrainian War
Wesley Nesbitt - Where the Future Lies: The Russo-Ukrainian War
Prisha Kejriwal - China's Economic Rise: Reform to Global Power
Aarev Sheth & Krish Malpani - Episode 1: Who Defends Europe? Autonomy, Ukraine, and the far-right
Aarev Sheth & Krish Malpani - Episode 2: Two Armies, One Flag: Hezbollah and the Limits of Lebanese Statehood
Prisha Kejriwal
Matteo Quadrini - Episode 1 - China-Taiwan Relations
Matteo Quadrini - Episode 2 - China-Taiwan Relations
Kimberly Rodriguez - Episode 1: Why Taiwan Matters?
Kimberly Rodriguez - Episode 2: The Quiet Battle for Taiwan
Summer 2025 Projects:
Hear from two of our Summer 2025 Named Fellowship participants!
Jack Stark Fellowship in Global Affairs: The Future of the Global Capitalist and Democratic Order (Supervised by Professor Appel)
Student researchers: Riley Cooper, Myles Kim, Nathan Perry, Violet Ramanathan, Abigail Niquette, Sophia Prosper & Akniyet Aldabergen
This research team examined past and current threats to the global liberal order that for decades promoted peace among democracies (in particular on the European continent after centuries of warfare), economic growth, higher living standards, and the rule of law. Many of the core members of that liberal order were imperfect democracies, often with self-serving foreign policies, but they nonetheless offered an attractive alternative to authoritarian political systems in the Cold War and Post-Cold War eras. Students discussed readings and worked in teams to develop two policy memos per group on current threats to the liberal order, including the rise of populist leaders, the abandonment of the free trade regime, and the weakening of multilateralism.
Peter Adams Fellowship in International Political Economy: US Economic Statecraft – Sanctions and Trade Wars (Supervised by Professor Koch)
Student researchers: Alex Chacon, Asher Engelberg, Advik Harlalka, Ellie Leiter, Jayla Provance, Matteo Quadrini & Shelby McIlroy
Students studied how and why the United States uses tariffs and economic sanctions in the international system? They examined the benefits and costs of these tools of economic statecraft and investigated the past and ongoing use of sanctions and tariffs by the United States. Working together in small groups, students developed policy recommendations regarding either tariffs or sanctions in US foreign policy today.
Harold W. Rood Fellowship in International Security: Enhancing U.S. Security (Supervised by Professor Taw)
Student researchers: Caden Lewis, Tulip Hori, Sara McMurtray, Sydney Nate, Isabel Del Villar
This summer research project investigated possible avenues to enhance U.S. security. The group spent the first couple of weeks in a cycle of discussion and research on what constitutes U.S. security, what factors affect it, what means there are to enhance it, and how leaders should prioritize among its many components. By the end of the second week, the group identified one-to-two policy questions to address and developed a group presentation deck focused on the effects of Artificial Intelligence on U.S. National Security:
William Crouch Fellowship in International Affairs: U.S. Foreign Policy under Trump (Supervised by Professor Bou Nassif)
Student researchers: Mary Martin, Jenna McComas, Lucy Meza, Danah Plair, Malia McColl, Jacob Pippel, Zach Kwong, and Ian Heuberger
Students examined the new directions in American Foreign Policy emerging under the Trump Administration. Students worked in teams to develop a podcast series on a range of topics including: How far will the current crisis in American-European relations go? Will America really take over Gaza – and where will the Palestinians go should that happen? Will the Trump administration defend Taiwan should it be attacked by China? Students researched these (and other) important American Foreign Policy questions and transformed the answers into podcasts published on Spotify.
Podcast links below!
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Riley Cooper and Sophia Prosper analyze the effects of populism on U.S. politics, the ways in which social media facilitates its spread, and recommendations for the U.S. government. Read more here.
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Nathan Perry analyzes the recent U.S. disengagement from the ICC. He presents recommendations for a U.S. strategy of “constructive engagement” similar to the approach taken with the International Labour Organization. Read more here.
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Nathan Perry and Riley Cooper analyze how international institution structures have driven countries like Turkey and Brazil away from the liberal international order. They present recommendations for institutional reform to the United Nations Security Council and International Monetary Fund to revitalize multilateralism in line with U.S. interests. Read more here.
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Sophia Prosper and Abigail Niquette argue that the U.S. should lead the creation of an alliance with Japan, Germany, France, the UK, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, and Canada. The alliance would limit Chinese access to sensitive technologies and foster innovation among trusted allies. Read more here.
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Violet Ramanathan and Abigail Niquette argue that the U.S. should adapt its trade instruments to better enforce international labor protections. They recommend incorporating stronger labor standards into U.S. free-trade agreements, targeted FDI loans, and microfinance grants in order to support the competitiveness of American jobs and improve labor conditions. Read more here.
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Myles Kim and Violet Ramanathan argue that China, Russia, and Iran all present credible threats to the liberal international order. To revitalize U.S. leadership, they recommend that the U.S. establish stronger trade relations in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Central and South Asia. Read more here.
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Myles Kim diagnoses the decline of the European center-left in the past few decades as right-wing populism has surged. He proposes that the center-left adopt a transformative economic agenda and rebuild grassroots political engagement. Read more here.
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Matteo Quadrini and Jayla Provance argue that Russia continues to exploit loopholes in the U.S. sanctions regime to fund its war in Ukraine. As a result, they propose expanding targeted secondary sanctions on entities facilitating Russian oil says above the G7 price cap of $60 per barrel for a 12-month trial period. Read more here.
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Asher Engelberg and Advik Harlaka argue that current U.S. policy on semiconductors is self-contradicting: while the CHIPS Act encourages investment, high tariffs on components limit incentives for foreign chipmakers to invest in U.S. production. They propose maintaining a 15% tariff on finished electronics but eliminating tariffs on components to encourage investment in U.S. production. Read more here.
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Alex Chacon, Ellie Leiter, and Shelby McIlroy analyze current U.S. sanctions on Venezuela and argue that they have failed to achieve their political objectives while contributing to a deep humanitarian crisis. They recommend developing a “inflation brake” mechanism to ease sanctions in moments of severe economic crisis combined with sanctions relief tied to measurable democratic reform. Read more here.
Zach Kwong and Ian Heuberger
Danah Plair, Malia McColl, and Jacob Pippel
Mary Martin, Jenna McComas, and Lucy Meza