Sonja D. Schmid

Sonja D. Schmid is a Professor in the Department of Science, Technology, and Society at Virginia Tech. She co-directs the STS graduate program in Northern Virginia and develops interdisciplinary initiatives such as the graduate certificate in 'Nuclear Science, Technology, and Policy.' Her research focuses on nuclear energy policies, nonproliferation, and technological choices in global contexts.

• Ph.D. holders advised: Davide Orsini (University of Michigan), Başak Saraç Lesavre (École des Mines, Paris)
• NSF-funded research on global nuclear emergency response challenges
• Co-director of the SIREN speaker series (now an online archive)

Her work bridges international security, energy policy, and socio-cultural risk studies. She serves on Virginia Tech’s 'Policy' Strategic Growth Area committee and the Jean Monet Center for Excellence, promoting transatlantic collaboration in nuclear research.

Prior roles include postdoctoral fellowships at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation and the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.