Name: Gili Vidan 
Home Institution: 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.”