Educating global leaders and generating research and insights for a safer, more prosperous world

Featured News

Analysis & Commentary

Dr. Rand and Ambassador Shringla to join MIT as distinguished fellows at the Center for International Studies

March 13, 2025

News

Houck and Ansari, PhD students, further their dissertation research abroad

March 04, 2025

News

“Urban Futures of the Amazon” debates urbanization issues in the biome and the region

February 27, 2025

Explore our activities by region

We invite faculty, researchers, and students from MIT and beyond to learn more about CIS’s impact and work — from research funding to student internships — happening in regions and nations worldwide.

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Events

All upcoming events

Apr 8

Bustani Seminar: Lebanon in the shadow of Gaza and in light of a new Syria

What’s next for Ukraine and Europe? A conversation with Dmytro Kuleba, former foreign minister of Ukraine

Global Space Infrastructure and U.S. Grand Strategy

Global Climate Adaptation: Overcoming Political and Policy Challenges

8:30am - 5:00pm

Location

Building 45 (MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing)

Opportunities

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Working Groups

CIS provides working group grants for advancing interdisciplinary collaborations in the field of international studies. These small grants are provided as "seed" funds for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows seeking to address scholarly problems.

Learn how to apply

Global Seed Funds

The MIT Global Seed Funds grant program provides opportunities for MIT faculty to collaborate with pioneering researchers from around the world.

Browse seed funds

Our community

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Staff

Nadie Trotman Brathwaite

Director of Administration and Finance

Faculty and Researchers

Lerna Ekmekcioglu

McMillan-Stewart Career Development Associate Professor of History as well as Director of Women and Gender Studies Program

Students

Julia Lodoen

PhD Student

Faculty and Researchers

Richard Nielsen

Faculty Director, MIT-Arab World Program

Associate Professor of Political Science

Students

Kunal Singh

PhD Student

Students

Eyal Hanfling

PhD Student

Student Spotlights

CIS makes it possible for MIT students to experience the world while advancing knowledge, tackling tough challenges, and preparing for lives of impact, service, and leadership in an interconnected global society.

Maria's story

Architecture & Mechanical Engineering '27

"Navigating unexpected situations with professionalism and composure is a valuable skill. I now see how crucial it is for future roles where my response will reflect my character and ability to handle pressure."

Jocelyn's story

Management '25

Jocelyn Zhu's first in-person industry internship at Native Design Ltd in London, UK made her feel more capable of living abroad. It also helped her consider a career in a tech or developer role instead of a role in management.

Nina's story

Engineering '24

Nina Gerszberg interned at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, where she contributed to an assistive robotics project focused on enabling individuals with disabilities to control a robotic arm using gaze tracking.

Fiona's story

Chemical Engineering '27

Chemical engineering major Fiona Shangguan interned at a startup doing quality control for disinfectant products made of recycled food waste while also finding the perfect ratio to create a bag out of banana peels and less plastic.

Almog's story

Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making '25

Almog Hillel traveled to Warsaw, Poland, in the summer 2024, where had the opportunity to work with the UA-Teens and Ukraine Leadership and Technology Academy (ULTA), teaching and mentoring 20 rigorously-selected Ukrainian high school students.

Student opportunities

Educating global leaders and generating research and insights for a safer, more prosperous world

Featured News

Competing visions of international order

MIT Maritime Consortium sets sail

From show trials to war: A brief history of Ukrainian scientists in portraits

Entrepreneurship and innovation strategy books from MIT

Strategic empathy & the roots of the Ukraine War

US policy on BRICS: A temporary fix or a strategic reset?

A collaboration across continents to solve a plastics problem

Dr. Rand and Ambassador Shringla to join MIT as distinguished fellows at the Center for International Studies

Houck and Ansari, PhD students, further their dissertation research abroad

“Urban Futures of the Amazon” debates urbanization issues in the biome and the region

Events

Bustani Seminar: Lebanon in the shadow of Gaza and in light of a new Syria

What’s next for Ukraine and Europe? A conversation with Dmytro Kuleba, former foreign minister of Ukraine

Global Space Infrastructure and U.S. Grand Strategy

Global Climate Adaptation: Overcoming Political and Policy Challenges

Opportunities

Our community

Nadie Trotman Brathwaite

Lerna Ekmekcioglu

Julia Lodoen

Richard Nielsen

Kunal Singh

Eyal Hanfling

Student Spotlights

Maria's story

Jocelyn's story

Nina's story

Fiona's story

Almog's story