✨Nuclear Scholars Initiative Spotlight ✨
Michael Baham is an experienced project manager, foreign policy analyst, and lead data analyst, focusing on nuclear, battery technology, and oil and gas projects. Currently, he works for TechSource, Inc.
nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/nuc...
Kazakhstan’s reactor decision highlights a key strategic reality: infrastructure partnerships shape geopolitical alignment for decades. In a new NGNN blog, Alexei (Frank) Hoffman explores what the U.S. absence from the deal means.
In On the Horizon Vol 8, 2025 PONI Nuclear Scholar Eliana Johns talks about how China’s ongoing and rapid modernization of its nuclear forces raises questions about the drivers behind the buildup.
Read the full article here
CSIS's Joseph Rodgers and Bailey Schiff break down Operation Epic Fury and the preliminary US-Israeli strikes launched on February 28th; answering key questions from the objectives of Operation Epic Fury to the long-term outlook.
Read the full analysis here: www.csis.org/analysis/ope...
In On Theories of Change, Heather Williams examines the divide between step-by-step arms control and the delegitimization strategy behind the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Read her full analysis here:
Marcus X. Alan is a certified acquisitions professional and U.S. Army Reserve officer. He currently serves as the Fire Control Lead for the U.S. Navy’s SLCM-N program at Strategic Systems Programs (SSP), where he supports the U.S. deterrence mission.
nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/nuc...
CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues, Nuclear expert Joseph Rodgers discusses the targets that were hit during the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Watch the full video:
In On the Horizon Vol. 8, 2025, Nuclear Scholar Shaquille James argues China’s nuclear “breakout” has expanded the sophistication, survivability, and size of its arsenal—but much of it builds on decades-old programs, not a sudden strategic shift.
Read the article here
#NEW NGNN blog post from Alexei (Frank) Hoffman "Kazakhstan chose Russia and China for its reactors — Washington wasn't even in the room.
Read his full analysis here:
In On the Horizon Vol 8, 2025 Nuclear Scholar Alvina Ahmed argues that Russia’s new systems—Kinzhal, Tsirkon, and Oreshnik—have provided limited tactical or strategic advantage in Ukraine and are more so, tools of psychological coercion than battlefield game changers.
New episode of the Negotiator Files is live! In this episode, Ambassador Ronald Lehman discusses his role as the chief U.S. negotiator of the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I).
youtu.be/SP4fi_kPV7M
In On the Horizon Vol 8, 2025 CSIS PONI Nuclear Scholar Philipp Rombach analyzes how fictional narratives and historical analogies play a critical role in shaping how the integration of AI into the nuclear enterprise is understood.
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Reminder: Applications for the PONI Congressional Fellowship at CSIS are due tonight Wednesday, Feb 18 at 11:59pm (EST)!
Apply here:
New CSIS PONI Analysis from Joseph Rodgers and Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. examine satellite imagery from China’s Lop Nur test site, assessing claims that 2020 activity may have gone beyond a “zero-yield” standard.
Read the article here:
www.csis.org/analysis/sat...
The future of arms control won’t look like the past. In a new piece for Bulletin for Atomic Scientists, CSIS PONI experts Joseph Rodgers and Doreen Horschig, PhD outline three practical proposals for managing nuclear competition in a post–New START world
#NEW: Announcing the 2025 Consensus Statement of the European Trilateral Track 2 Nuclear Dialogues, a collaboration between the @csis.org, @rusi.bsky.social, and La Fondation pour la recherche stratégique (FRS).
Read the Consensus Statement here: www.csis.org/analysis/csi...
APPLICATION EXTENDED: The PONI Congressional Fellowship at CSIS have been extended to, Feb 18 at 11:59pm EST!
This fellowship is designed for early- and mid-career Congressional staff working on national security, defense, foreign policy, or strategic issues.
We're excited to announce the 2026 Nuclear Scholars Initiative! Meet the cohort: nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/nuc...
🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦
Michelle Frybarger is a W88 Systems Engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory. She holds an MS in Biomedical Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Reminder: Applications for the PONI Congressional Fellowship at CSIS are due tonight Wednesday, Feb 11 at 11:59pm (EST)!
This nine-month fellowship is designed for early- and mid-career Congressional staff working on national security, defense, foreign policy, or strategic issues.
Apply here:
CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) expert @heatherwilly.bsky.social argues that New START’s expiration does not need to trigger an arms race or a major U.S. nuclear buildup but could instead open the door to a new phase of arms control.
Read her analysis here: www.csis.org/analysis/thr...
In On the Horizon Vol. 8 (2025), CSIS PONI Nuclear Scholar Ariel Phuphaphantakarn explores how AI can enhance nuclear deterrence while also creating psychological risks, including illusion, anxiety, and information overload that can distort human judgment.
Read here: www.csis.org/analysis/hor...
Reminder: Applications for the PONI Congressional Fellowship at CSIS are due Wednesday, Feb 11!
Early/mid-career Congressional staff working on defense, foreign policy, or strategic issues — apply now to build bipartisan leadership skills.
Apply here: www.csis.org/programs/pro...
🚨 Applications are open for the Scoville Peace Fellowship (@scovillepf.bsky.social)!
Recent grads can work 6–9 months with leading DC NGOs on peace & security issues.
📅 Deadline: Feb 27
ℹ️ Info session tomorrow
Apply: scoville.org
Info: scoville.org/overview/inf...
🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦
Norman Love is a Systems Engineer at @LosAlamosNatLab. Norman graduated from @UofOklahoma with a PhD.
nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...
New episode of The Negotiator Files is live! This installment features Rose Gottemoeller as she discusses her role as the chief U.S. negotiator of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).
Watch Here: The Negotiator Files:
NEW: In the latest episode of The Negotiator Files, @poni.csis.org is joined by Rose Gottemoeller to discuss her role as the chief U.S. negotiator of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbXF...
In On the Horizon Vol. 8 (2025), CSIS PONI Nuclear Scholar William J. Peck argues that the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise urgently needs modernization and that advanced manufacturing can improve efficiency, address workforce and infrastructure challenges.
Read it here
www.csis.org/analysis/hor...
🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦
Miriam Kreher is an R&D Engineer at Los Alamos National Lab. Miriam graduated from @mit.edu with a PhD from the University of Pittsburg with a B.S. in Engineering Science.
nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...
