Military Sciences Rising Stars
This initiative is designed to showcase, mentor, and nurture a diverse talent-pool of thought-leaders in the military sciences, bolstering RUSI’s mission to build a more secure, equitable and informed world.
RUSI employs some of the brightest minds to examine the most vexing challenges and intractable problems facing today’s militaries. However, the enduring strength of our current cohort is not something we can take for granted, and we must foster the talent of future generations. That is why the Military Sciences team is conducting a mentoring scheme focused on nurturing tomorrow’s candidates for leading positions in the field of national security.
Those selected will have access to the resources of the Military Sciences team and benefit from formal mentoring sessions each month. The aim is to develop the participants’ writing style and pace and strengthen their ability to write and win research bids, as well as engaging with and understanding the origins of thought-leading ideas and knowing how to deliver impact and influence in the policy world.
In providing early career researchers with additional skills, we seek to help them to build a more robust and engaged network.
Our mentees
Monika Bičkauskaitė
Program Assistant, German Marshall Fund of the United States, Warsaw Office
Emma Ethell
King’s College London student, MA International Peace and Security
Filipa Goncalves
Research Analyst, NATO
Luisa Freutel
Graduate Trainee at NATO HQ, Operations Division
Samuel Jardine
Research Director, London Politica
Chandana Seshadri
Research Analyst, Counter Proliferation Financing
Centre for Finance and Security
Tessa Winchester
Senior Researcher and Editor, insight6
Programme Lead
Andrew Young
Former Military Sciences Community Manager
Aims and objectives
Our aim is to identify and grow exceptional individuals by adding to the skills obtained through conventional education. We will provide them with access to literature, editorial guidance and thought-leaders, and our events and activities will help them deliver ground-breaking, practitioner-focused research outputs.
Each month, Military Sciences Research Fellows will lead formal training sessions. Individuals will be supported in their writing and publication of material, as well as being given a grounding in interview techniques, media handling and event management. As we progress into RUSI’s yearly conference season, participants will have the opportunity to attend as Military Sciences delegates, as well as to get a feel for the planning and delivery of events for a global audience.
The scheme is not designed as an internship or as work experience; participants in the scheme will not be employed on RUSI work and their outputs remain their exclusive property. The Military Sciences team conduct their work for this group on a pro bono basis. Selection is rigorous and highly competitive. Details of selection, and future opportunities, are available from the programme lead.
