The Potomac Institute Internship Program (for undergraduate, graduate, or recently graduated students) hosts interns with a variety of academic backgrounds that relate to the science, technology, and national security missions of the Institute. The Institute strives to provide a versatile experience for each internship participant. Interns are placed within our program divisions at PIPS. Some unique qualities of the program are policy research, school credits, seminars and conferences, publication acknowledgements, and networking.
On August 3rd and 8th, the interns presented their projects to the Potomac Institute staff, which signified the culmination of their internship. A brief biography of the interns and their research projects are below:
Anthony Benja-Athon, Tufts University
Congested, Contested, Competitive: American National Security in the Face of China’s Evolving Space Strategy
Anthony Benja-Athon is a rising junior at Tufts University double majoring in International Relations, concentrating in International Security, and History, concentrating in Sino-Japanese History. Anthony researched the capabilities and defense apparatuses of the United States' space-based C4ISR and navigation satellite networks. He examined how the United States' ability to conduct information driven warfare is facing significant threat from the modernizing and rapidly expanding Chinese space program.
Adam Hart, Georgetown University
Incentivizing a Secure Internet of Things
Adam Hart is a rising junior at Georgetown University majoring in International Politics. Adam's research project examined the Internet of Things security issues and potential responses to these challenges such as regulatory policies, hardware development, and blockchain.
Cecilia Herrick - Reynolds, University of Maryland
Addressing the Use of Technology to Alleviate Food Insecurity
Cecilia Herrick - Reynolds is a rising senior at the University of Maryland pursuing a bachelor of arts in economics. Cecilia researched emerging technologies that could increase agricultural production, food security, sustainability, and political stability to ultimately end world hunger and alleviate poverty.
Joseph Kelly, University of Richmond
Fixing the Defense Supply Chain
Joseph Kelly is a rising senior at the University of Richmond majoring in American Studies. Joseph's research project was on recognizing and analyzing the potential national security threats as a result of the development of 3D printing technology.
Sabrina Kim, University of Virginia
Enhanced Human Operations: The Future of Warfare
Sabrina Kim is a rising 3rd year at the University of Virginia double majoring in Biology and Global Security & Justice. While at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, she investigated the use of enhanced human operations as a military strategy. Her project focuses on neuroscience-based research initiatives as well as on ways to improve the Department of Defense's commercial technology acquisition.
Marron McConnell, Vassar College
Data Driven Epidemiology: A Strategy for Prediction and Prevention
Marron McConnel is a rising junior at Vassar College double majoring in Mathematics and Statistics. Marron's research project focused on the impact of big data analytics on epidemiology, and the potential shift from a culture of predominantly retroactive disease modeling to one of proactive, predictive modeling and prevention.
Shawn Srolovitz, University of Pennsylvania
Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare Management: Policies to Change the Healthcare Landscape Through Technology
Shawn Srolovitz is a rising senior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Bioengineering. Shawn researched the use of artificial intelligence in medicine to understand how it can improve the United States healthcare management system, in order to reduce costs and expand access.
Christopher Winschel, Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and Hertie School of Governance (Berlin, Germany)
Russian Cyber: Hybrid Warfare and the U.S. Response
Christopher Winshcel is a graduate student at Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs earning his Master's in International Relations and, also, earning his Master's in Public Policy at the Hertie School of Governance (Berlin, Germany). Christopher researched the United States' response to Russian cyber attacks that are a part Russia's broader hybrid warfare strategy. Specifically, looking at the ability of these attacks to affect all levels of society and the United States' response from both an offensive and defensive perspective.
To learn more about the Policy Internship Program click here.
