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 2023 summer research, check out the Jackson School blog, which features posts by Hannah Oblak, Victoria Kipngetich, Cynthia Sutanto, Rachel Cifu and Andrew DeWeese.
Grand Strategy Summer Research Award
The Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy also provides support for summer research projects conducted by Yale undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students who are not enrolled in the Grand Strategy course.
Research must be related to the historical study or contemporary practice of grand strategy. Qualified applicants will be interested in conducting field research, oral interviews with experts, and scholarly research to determine solutions to the pressing issues of our times. Projects must offer a methodology and vision for creating change in the world in areas that include social and racial justice, climate change, economic development, military affairs, and technology.
Recipients of the fellowship are expected to be in consultation with faculty and practitioners in the Grand Strategy program about their projects both before and during the research process.
Application Procedure
Awards are offered annually, with applications opening in January and due March 8 at 11:59pm. Funds will be issued in May for research conducted in the summer, with amounts rarely exceeding $4,000.
All students must apply through the Student Grants and Fellowships Database where they will be asked to upload the following:
- Proposal (no more than five pages)
- Resumé
- One-page budget
Recipients are required to present the findings of their summer work to faculty in the Grand Strategy program or International Security Studies, ideally sharing their work in the ISS Colloquium.
Questions about the award should be directed to Michael Brenes, co-director of the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy.