Summer research projects are a hallmark of the Grand Strategy program. Every summer, students embark on research trips that allow them to explore pressing political, economic, and social issues.

In the spring, students consult with GS faculty on a summer project. They are expected to produce a proposal that outlines the scope of the project, the essential questions and themes, and a budget for completion. If approved, funding of $2,500-$4,000 will be available. Back on campus in the fall, students submit a written brief, policy essay, or academic research paper that presents their findings.

GS students have pursued research across the globe, from Washington to Delhi, Manhattan to Madrid, and everywhere in between. The topics pursued often mirror the themes explored in class such as great power competition, global governance, and social change. Recent projects include:

• Assessing Prison Abolition as a Strategic Project
• The Future of the Democratic Party: Framing a Strategy for 2050
• How Chile Went from Economic Role Model to Dysfunctional Disaster
• Nord Stream 2: The Contradictions, the Effects, the Future
• Queer Rights Movements in Kenya: Strategies of De-colonial Resistance
• The Silicon Shield’s Unlikely Savior: Taiwanese AI

For more on 2025 summer research, check out the Jackson School blog, which features posts by Isabella Panico, Elisa Cruz and Agnes Sjöblad.