June 25, 2025
Masako Toki
2025 Summer Undergraduate Fellows with Dr. William Potter, CNS Director, and Masako Toki, Sr. Project Manager
The 2025 Summer Undergraduate Nonproliferation Fellowship Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), part of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), began on June 9, 2025. This summer, CNS welcomed eleven outstanding undergraduate Fellows, selected through a highly competitive process.
A Diverse and Talented Cohort
This year’s Fellows represent a diverse and talented group of motivated and promising students from leading institutions across the United States, including Middlebury College, Harvard University, the University of Georgia, Soka University of America, Franklin & Marshall College, and Williams College.
The Fellows bring with them a broad range of academic interests and experiences, including International Politics and Economics, Philosophy, Political Science, Global Studies, East Asian Studies, Arabic, Astronomy, and Geosciences. Many have already shown strong interest and early engagement in issues related to nonproliferation, international security, and global affairs.
The 2025 cohort also demonstrates impressive language capabilities, with proficiency ranging from native to advanced in Russian, Spanish, French, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Telugu, and Portuguese.
Lectures and Research Projects
As in previous years, the Fellows are engaged in an intensive schedule of lectures, workshops, and hands-on training. Topics include international nonproliferation regimes, the science of nuclear weapons, and regional nonproliferation challenges in Eurasia, East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Other lecture topics cover nuclear and radiological security, artificial intelligence and nuclear nonproliferation, humanitarian initiatives in nuclear disarmament, export controls, open-source tools for nonproliferation, and geospatial analysis.
Under the guidance of CNS experts, the Fellows conduct independent research projects and contribute to ongoing CNS research and education initiatives. These experiences help them develop analytical and technical skills, tackle complex policy issues, and become part of the broader nonproliferation community. At the end of the program, each Fellow presents their research findings to CNS experts, MIIS faculty, and long-time program supporters, Mr. and Mrs. Pattison.
About the Program
Now in its 28th year, the CNS Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program continues to provide exceptional training for students interested in nonproliferation, arms control, and disarmament. The program reinforces CNS’s role in shaping the next generation of leaders in the field. It runs from early June through late August.
The 2025 program is generously supported by the Tom and Sarah Pattison Fund and the Middlebury College Office of the Provost. For more information about the Summer Undergraduate Nonproliferation Program, please visit the project website. You may also contact CNS Senior Project Manager Masako Toki for further inquiries.
Dr. Potter speaks to the Fellows about current challenges in nonproliferation
