The overarching question imparting urgency to this exploration is: Can U.S.-Russian contention in cyberspace cause the two nuclear superpowers to stumble into war? In considering this question we were constantly reminded of recent comments by a prominent U.S. arms control expert: At least as dangerous as the risk of an actual cyberattack, he observed, is cyber operations’ “blurring of the line between peace and war.” Or, as Nye wrote, “in the cyber realm, the difference between a weapon and a non-weapon may come down to a single line of code, or simply the intent of a computer program’s user.”
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs supports and collaborates with several student and professional organizations at the school on career development and policy-relevant events. The Center has proudly partnered with Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D), the Black Student Union, the Armed Forces Committee, the Women in Power Conference, and the Future Society to host seminars and conferences at HKS. We welcome opportunities to forge partnerships between students and the Center.
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Students speak with Belfer Center teams at the 2022 Belfer Open House
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Diplomacy PIC Students present at Belfer 2022 Open House
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HKS Students attend the Belfer Center 2022 Open House
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U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin, 8th Congressional District of Michigan, speaks to students about her career in national service spanning roles at the CIA, in the White House, at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, at the Pentagon, and currently in Congress. Caitlin Keliher moderated the event.
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Former Belfer IGA Fellows are welcomed to the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs by Directors Ash Carter, Director and Eric Rosenbach
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Members of the Belfer Center’s Economic Diplomacy Initiative gather after hosting “Digital Currency Wars,” a simulation of a live White House National Security Council meeting in response to a major security crisis.
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Samantha Power the Anna Lindh Professor of the Practice of Global Leadership and Public Policy meets with Belfer IGA Fellows.
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Leaders of W3D meet with Juliette Kayyem, Director of the Homeland Security Project and Belfer Senior Lecturer in International Security
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A breakfast celebrating the 10th cohort of IGA concentrators as well as the announcement of the PAE awards.
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New admitted students attend an informational meet-and-greet hosted by the Belfer Center.
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Bonnie Jenkins, Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, U.S. Department of State, speaks on her career during a Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D) seminar.
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Susan M. Gordon, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, speaks on the challenges of intelligence in a rapidly-changing world during a Belfer Center Director’s seminar moderated by Eric Rosenbach, Co-Director of the Belfer Center.
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Wendy Sherman, Belfer Center Senior Fellow and former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, speaks about her career path from social work to the State Department as part of a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session hosted by W3D and moderated by Co-Chairs Alexandra Schmitt and Gabrielle Tarini MPP19.
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Loretta Lynch, former Attorney General of the United States, speaks on the issues she faced during her time as the U.S. Attorney General during a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session co-hosted with the Black Student Union and moderated by Demarquin Johnson joint MPP/JD at Harvard.
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Belfer Center Senior Fellow Michèle Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, discusses her experiences and the challenges around increasing the number of women in national security leadership positions at the first Women in Power Conference. Alexandra Schmitt MPP19, Co-Chair of W3D served as moderator.
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Susan Rice, former National Security Advisor to President Obama, former U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, and Belfer Center non-resident Senior Fellow, gives students and fellows career advice during a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session co-hosted with the Black Student Union and W3D.
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W3D and the Future of Diplomacy Project host Dr. Aminata Touré, the first female Prime Minister of Senegal, to converse with students about gender, foreign affairs, and leadership.
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The Belfer Center hosts an Open House for HKS students
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Students speak with Belfer Center teams at the 2022 Belfer Open House
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Diplomacy PIC Students present at Belfer 2022 Open House
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HKS Students attend the Belfer Center 2022 Open House
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U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin, 8th Congressional District of Michigan, speaks to students about her career in national service spanning roles at the CIA, in the White House, at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, at the Pentagon, and currently in Congress. Caitlin Keliher moderated the event.
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Former Belfer IGA Fellows are welcomed to the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs by Directors Ash Carter, Director and Eric Rosenbach
-
Members of the Belfer Center’s Economic Diplomacy Initiative gather after hosting “Digital Currency Wars,” a simulation of a live White House National Security Council meeting in response to a major security crisis.
-
Samantha Power the Anna Lindh Professor of the Practice of Global Leadership and Public Policy meets with Belfer IGA Fellows.
-
Leaders of W3D meet with Juliette Kayyem, Director of the Homeland Security Project and Belfer Senior Lecturer in International Security
-
A breakfast celebrating the 10th cohort of IGA concentrators as well as the announcement of the PAE awards.
-
New admitted students attend an informational meet-and-greet hosted by the Belfer Center.
-
Bonnie Jenkins, Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, U.S. Department of State, speaks on her career during a Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D) seminar.
-
Susan M. Gordon, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, speaks on the challenges of intelligence in a rapidly-changing world during a Belfer Center Director’s seminar moderated by Eric Rosenbach, Co-Director of the Belfer Center.
-
Wendy Sherman, Belfer Center Senior Fellow and former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, speaks about her career path from social work to the State Department as part of a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session hosted by W3D and moderated by Co-Chairs Alexandra Schmitt and Gabrielle Tarini MPP19.
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Loretta Lynch, former Attorney General of the United States, speaks on the issues she faced during her time as the U.S. Attorney General during a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session co-hosted with the Black Student Union and moderated by Demarquin Johnson joint MPP/JD at Harvard.
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Belfer Center Senior Fellow Michèle Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, discusses her experiences and the challenges around increasing the number of women in national security leadership positions at the first Women in Power Conference. Alexandra Schmitt MPP19, Co-Chair of W3D served as moderator.
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Susan Rice, former National Security Advisor to President Obama, former U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, and Belfer Center non-resident Senior Fellow, gives students and fellows career advice during a Belfer Center Student and Fellows session co-hosted with the Black Student Union and W3D.
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W3D and the Future of Diplomacy Project host Dr. Aminata Touré, the first female Prime Minister of Senegal, to converse with students about gender, foreign affairs, and leadership.
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The Belfer Center hosts an Open House for HKS students
Belfer Student Fellows Cohort Photo
Belfer Young Leaders Student Fellowship
The Belfer Young Leaders (BYL) Student Fellowship Program helps prepare a community of high-achieving Harvard Kennedy School students to cultivate 21st century, global ideas and to gain the strong analytical and innovative leadership skills necessary to excel in the global affairs arena. The BYL fellowship program also aims to impart to students the importance of community, service, and leadership. This fellowship includes the possibility of a financial award of up to $25,000.00 per academic year to be applied towards tuition; awards will be determined based on a student’s need, other financial awards, and academic performance of the student.
Eligibility: MPP and MPA students at the Harvard Kennedy School can apply during 2 application periods - as a prospective HKS student during the admissions and financial aid process and as a rising MPP2/MPA2 student during March of their first year. This fellowship is not currently open to MPA-ID candidates.
Duration: One year, eligible for renewal based upon an annual evaluation process and academic good standing.
Prospective students: Applications are now open and can be found in the HKS Financial Aid application (due January 6, 2023).
Returning Students: Applications for rising MPP2/MPA2s will open on March 1, 2023 at 9 AM EST (due March 31, 2023 at 5 PM EST).
Please find additional information on the Belfer Young Leader Student Fellowship here.
Belfer Student Fellows with Co-Director Eric Rosenbach
Meet our 2022-2023 Belfer Student Fellows!
Funding Support
The Belfer Center occasionally funds HKS students (or officially recognized Harvard student organizations) for research, publications, and events related to the core interests of the Center. These decisions are made on an ad hoc basis.
All applications are accepted through the application (below) in the fall-spring semester.
Please contact Mackenzie Heather (mackenzie_heather@hks.harvard.edu) with any questions.
Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D)
Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development, a student organization at the Harvard Kennedy School, aims to elevate the visibility and impact of women at HKS interested in pursuing careers in the fields of security, diplomacy, and development. The group provides an inclusive space and network for students seeking to enter or advance within these traditionally male-dominated fields. They aim to provide a platform for women to become more meaningfully involved in these issues at HKS and beyond.
Armed Forces Committee (AFC)
The Armed Forces Committee is a student-led organization at HKS that, with support from the Belfer Center, hosts “For the Common Defense,” a weekly speaker series held in the Belfer Library. The series features top-tier military and civilian leaders and focuses on the most pressing issues in the national security space, holds discussions about the civilian-military divide, and serves as the first interaction many HKS students have with members of the military. The AFC welcomes all veterans, active duty military, and students interested in national security.
Several of the Belfer Research teams and Senior Fellows offer opportunities for students during the academic year. Last updated on September 15, 2022.
Managing the Atom Project (MTA)
The Project on Managing the Atom (MTA) occasionally offers research opportunities during the academic year for students to work with faculty, staff, and fellows. Interested students may reach out to marina_lorenzini @hks.harvard.edu.
The Middle East Initiative (MEI) has a variety of opportunities for HKS and Harvard students, including research MEI assistant positions for the program and for MEI senior fellows. MEI also participates in the Belfer Center’s Summer Research Assistant Program and provides funding for summer internships, as well as for PAE/SYPA research. Please see MEI’s website for more details about these opportunities.
Further questions and student resumes may be submitted to MEI’s Associate Director, Alison Hillegeist ahillegeist@hks.harvard.edu.
Kuwait Foundation Fellowship
The Kuwait Foundation Fellowship for Outstanding Emerging Leaders is awarded on a competitive, merit basis to deserving applicants from the Arab World with a preference for students from Kuwait.
It is expected that fellowship recipients will be active and engaged with the activities of the Middle East Initiative. MEI encourages applicants who can demonstrate leadership potential and a passion for public policy issues and concerns in the Arab World to apply. They also value candidates who are entrepreneurial in their field, are strong collaborators and committed to grassroots application and involvement in their society's most pressing issues and concerns.
Further questions and student resumes may be submitted to Julia Martin julia_martin@hks.harvard.edu.