Current Ph.D. Students

David is a Ph.D. student in Security Studies and a Fellow at the Center for International Security Studies. David’s doctoral work lies at the intersection of regime typology and international law compliance. Prior to coming to Princeton, David graduated from Swarthmore College with a B.A. with honors majoring in political science with a minor in Asian studies. After Swarthmore, he attended London School of Economics and Political Science, where he earned a Master of Science in international relations as a Cunningham Scholar. His research at LSE, theorized a connection between political economic structures such of state-led capitalism and geopolitical revision. Most recently, David earned his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a Keller Scholar. His research and coursework focused on questions of public international law, the law of war, international human rights, and the Use of Force. Professionally, David has accompanied his academic pursuits holding roles as a research assistant at the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University, and most recently as a legal intern for the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. 

Dana is a senior political advisor. Her professional journey spans over 15 years at the heart of Israeli politics, where she has worked across government institutions, policy design, and high-stakes negotiations. In her most recent role, Dana led political operations for the Israeli Opposition Leader, after serving in a similar capacity in the Prime Minister’s Office. Over the years, she designed and led legislative initiatives and shaped national policy through senior positions in the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dana was instrumental in the formation and maintenance of Israel’s 36th government, the “Change Government.” Since 2023, she has coordinated the opposition’s parliamentary response to the ongoing judicial overhaul crisis. Her work reflects a deep engagement with coalition-building, institutional resilience, and democratic governance. Dana holds a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she specialized in civic education, and is a graduate of executive programs in negotiation and leadership at Harvard University. Originally from Kibbutz El-Rom in northern Israel, Dana resided in Jerusalem with her partner and their three children prior to coming to Princeton.

Sydney Leigh Smith (she/her) is a PhD Candidate in Security Studies at Princeton University, co-advised by Kim Lane Scheppele and Barbara Buckinx. She holds an MA in Human Rights Studies with a specialization in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law from Columbia University and a BA in International Studies and Women's and Gender Studies from the University of Michigan. She is also a Contributor for Global Voices. Her research focuses on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), the reintegration of children associated with armed forces and armed groups (CAAFAG), and the implementation of human rights and humanitarian law.

At the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination (LISD), she is the Fellowship Lead of the Gender and Security Fellowship and Graduate Advisor of the Africa Program. She is also a Principal Research Consultant for the UN Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) and the All Survivors Project (ASP).

She has previously held roles at the Peace Research Institute Oslo, the Clooney Foundation for Justice (Lead Researcher and Project Manager), the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU) at the University of Cape Town (International Legal and Policy Consultant), and the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (Legal Researcher and Data Analyst), where she continues to advise on data tools and women's and girls' rights.

Calvin is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (STEP) program. He is a member of the Behavioral Science and Policy Lab and is advised by Dr. Elke Weber. In his research, Calvin investigates the sociopolitical dynamics of energy transitions in the U.S., China, and Germany. Ultimately, he aims to facilitate a more nuanced understanding of energy policies across these three countries and improve the management of sociopolitical responses in energy transitions. Previously, Calvin worked as a power market reform intern at RMI, an energy and environmental policy intern at China Policy, and a transportation system analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Calvin holds a master’s degree in China studies from Peking University and a B.S. in Business Administration from The Ohio State University.

Silas is a PhD student in the Science, Technology, & Environmental Policy cluster. He is advised by Dr. Wei Peng and Dr. Jesse Jenkins.

His research is focused on energy system modeling, combining optimization, economics, and policy analysis to develop tools that evaluate emissions reduction goals, inform investments in new technologies, and guide planning for new energy infrastructure. He is interested in improving these tools to better represent sources of disruption and deployment frictions in the energy system.

Prior to Princeton, Silas was based in San Francisco working for the Electric Power Research Institute. He was also a research assistant at the Center for Global Energy Policy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. He holds a BS in Environmental Engineering and a BA in Philosophy from Columbia University.