Tamar Levkovich
Davis UWC Fellow
CNS Project: Middle East
Brandeis University
Major: Politics, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies

"I came to CNS with a clear interest and previous knowledge of nonproliferation and quickly found that there is much more to be learned. Since each of us arrived at CNS with different backgrounds in nonproliferation, the first few weeks of the fellowship focused on filling in the gaps of knowledge. Coming from a political science background, I was particularly interested in the international norms system that has developed around nuclear weapons.

When it came to picking an area for my research I chose to borrow from what I have learned about the international norms systems surrounding nuclear weapons, and apply it to a new technology — Cyber Warfare. The CNS staff and faculty were very helpful in guiding my learning process, going above and beyond to help me find the information that I needed.

The Center truly embraced us. Because of how supportive, knowledgeable and interesting the staff and faculty members were and the great company of the MIIS students working there — we were made to feel like important and productive members of the community. To top off an exhilarating summer experience, the undergrad interns and fellows formed a close friendship and took advantage of the wonderful sites and scenes that northern California has to offer."

Gili Vidan
Davis UWC Fellow
CNS Project: EANP
Harvard University
Major: Social Studies with Computer Science as a secondary field and a Chinese (Mandarin) language certificate

Spending the summer at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies was a unique experience. I was able to learn a lot about nonproliferation and security issues from leading experts while getting a glimpse at what life at a research center might be like. When I first arrived I felt that I was not so well-versed in the material, but attending lectures, joining and leading discussions with my fellow summer interns and reading material under the staff's guidance quickly caught me up to speed with some of the most pressing issues in the field of nonproliferation and disarmament.

I was very fortunate to be able to pursue an independent research project, looking into emerging military technology dissemination and international norms. I found the staff at CNS to be very accommodating and supportive. Experts were willing to dedicate their time to recommend a book, go over my work, or just grab some lunch and chat about my interests on the topic. What I learned this summer at CNS will definitely inform my future academic career. There are very few funded opportunities for undergraduates to carry independent research such as the Davis fellowship at CNS and I would like to thank the generosity of Kathryn Davis for making it possible."

Katie McCulloh
Intern
CNS Project: Various projects including CBWNP and IONP
Cornell University
Major: Mathematics

"This summer, I helped with an all hazards preparedness project in the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program that focused on adapting decision-making software to learn more about emergency preparedness and training. This project gave me the opportunity to apply my mathematical background to emergency preparedness issues in a way that I had never considered before. The supervisors of the project were extremely helpful and approachable, and I really felt like I was able to contribute as a part of the project team.

The summer internship at CNS was a really great opportunity for me to learn about nonproliferation and disarmament issues. There is an incredible group of faculty members who are passionate about nonproliferation and about sharing their experiences, knowledge, and expertise. Everyone at CNS seems to have a great appreciation for both the policy and technical issues surrounding nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament and nuclear energy. The lectures and seminars were engaging and taught me about topics that I had very limited experience with, if any. In addition to learning about topics such as the nuclear fuel cycle and the international nonproliferation regime, we also heard talks on human trafficking, counterterrorism, and the Fukushima tragedy. I really enjoyed being exposed to so many interesting and relevant issues, and I feel like I gained a great appreciation of the complexities of the debates about nuclear technology.

Getting to interact with the other people at CNS was probably my favorite part of the internship. Everyone was extremely willing and able to help answer any of my nonproliferation questions, and also to offer some guidance about planning for the future. The other interns and fellows were also very friendly and fascinating. I feel very lucky to have worked with and befriended so many great people from such diverse backgrounds."

Joshua Slocum
Intern
CNS Project: CBWNP
Cornell University
Major: Biological Sciences

"I relished my summer experience at the James Martin Center for Non-proliferation Studies. Although I came to CNS with nascent experience in non-proliferation and international relations, I not only learned a considerable amount about the academic discipline and tangential security issues on both domestic and international levels, but I also left with an understanding of what it means to work in the field. The work atmosphere highly encourages interns to collaborate amongst each other, and the scholars at CNS are always willing to help.

I chose to contribute to the Chemical and Biological Weapons (CBW) department at CNS. There I was afforded the chance to work on an interactive map of chemical munitions ocean dumpsites, and execute my own research on the proliferation of biochemical agents. Yet, the majority of my work focused on an existing CNS project in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help design a training and evaluation survey tool pertaining to all-hazards preparedness.

The CNS internship offers ample opportunities in non-proliferation, as well as unique experiences in related fields. My weeks were filled with talks by generals, ambassadors, police sergeants, intelligence officials, and those working in security and international relations, and my weekends filled with outings to Monterey and Big Sur. I would do it all over again."

Emily Johnson
Intern
CNS Project: Middle East/IONP
Dartmouth College
Major: Government and Middle Eastern Studies

"I am truly grateful for the opportunities I received at CNS this summer. I interacted with distinguished experts and practitioners from the field of nonproliferation, attended lectures given by nuclear physicists and senior diplomats, worked on substantive, fulfilling projects, and got to know an amazing group of undergraduates — my fellow interns.

The CNS internship program is genuinely focused on giving its interns the best possible learning experience. From the very first day, when I met with Dr. Potter, the director of the Center, to discuss how my skills and interests matched with ongoing CNS projects, it was clear that the CNS staff was committed to making this a meaningful and rewarding experience. From there, the interns attended lectures, participated in discussion groups, and went on a fun weekend trip to visit the local sights, all of which was organized for us by CNS. In addition, various staff members continuously checked in throughout the summer to make sure we were enjoying our work.

At a lot of undergraduate internships, interns spend most days doing busy work or administrative duties. This is certainly not the case at CNS. At the end of the day, I felt that the work I did genuinely contributed to CNS's mission. As an undergraduate, that was a really exciting feeling."

Charles Limido
Intern
CNS Project: NTI
Brown University
Major: International Relations

"My summer internship at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies was a very rewarding experience. My time a CNS allowed me to get direct exposure and broaden my knowledge of nonproliferation issues as well as improve my researching and writing skills. One of the unique aspects of this internship that I truly enjoyed is the degree of freedom that you are given to make the most out of your time spent at the Monterey Institute.

I divided my time between working on projects that related to my interests to attending many lectures on WMD and nonproliferation issues while still doing some personal research. This good balance between working and learning about these topics is definitively one of the things I liked the most about my summer in Monterey.

Getting to know the CNS staff and interns was also one of the best parts of this internship. The staff members are extremely knowledgeable and always very open to talking and working with you; whether it is about their projects or your own research. The interns' and graduate research assistants' diverse backgrounds and interests contributed to some great discussions on nonproliferation issues and some of my best memories of this summer!

Whether you are thinking of starting researching for your senior thesis or want to spend a summer learning more about this fascinating subject, CNS will provide you with a unique setting to accomplish your goals."

Lisa Bergstrom
Intern
CNS Project: NTI, Russian Country Profiles
University of Washington
Major: International Relations and Russian and Science and Technology

"I have often used CNS publications and CNS content on the Nuclear Threat Initiative's website for my school papers and personal curiosity. Therefore, I was thrilled to do writing and research for the NTI website. I updated and edited entries on Russian nuclear facilities and country profiles for the former Soviet Union, and collected Russian-language source documents. I'm glad my work will help others find accessible, high-quality information, plus, I can point to a page and say, "I wrote that!" I'll be able to use my new research skills and expanded knowledge in graduate school and my career.

Everyone at CNS - the staff, graduate research assistants, visiting fellows, and other interns — was very nice and approachable, including those with the most intimidating resumes. It's a small organization, but I worked and interacted with people from many different countries and fields of study. CNS clearly cares about its interns and organized lectures, movies, discussions, and a day trip for us. At the time, they treat you like a real part of the team and appreciate your input. And though Monterey is a little cloudier and drizzlier in the summer than one might expect, it's a great place to spend the internship. It's laidback and almost everything is within walking distance."

Aigerim Kazykhanova
Intern
CNS Project: IONP
University of Kent
Major: International Relations and French

"Working for CNS this summer was a very rewarding experience. Being new to the policies of nuclear non-proliferation, CNS offered me the opportunity to broaden my knowledge of international affairs and taught me new perspectives on global issues. Due to the expertise of my colleagues and the chance to research my own region of Central Asia, I was able to study in-depth an area in which I have an interest.

As part of a diverse group of interns from around the world, I bonded quickly with my peers and we explored the beautiful state of California in our spare time. I am very grateful to CNS for the experience I gained, the friends I made during this internship, and the lessons learned which laid the foundation for entering the working world with confidence."

Alexander Bedrosyan
Intern
CNS Project: NTI
Columbia University
Major: Political Science Russian Concentration

"A CNS internship is an important experience for anyone wants to experience how a specialized think-tank works. As an intern, I got to meet many different experts as well as a diverse array of graduate students. I learned about the technical aspects of non-proliferation in addition to my previous knowledge on policy, and this balance will prove to be valuable in searching for careers in the field."