Jung Jae Kwon

Jung Jae Kwon is a Research Fellow (Postdoctoral Fellow) at the University of California's Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC) in Washington, D.C., specializing in technology and international security. He holds affiliations with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Project on Managing the Atom and the Notre Dame International Security Center as a former fellow.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2025
• LL.M. in China Studies (Politics and International Relations), Yenching Academy of Peking University
• B.A. in Government, magna cum laude, Harvard University

Research Interests: His work examines the nexus of conventional military strategy and nuclear weapons within U.S.-allied frameworks, with emphasis on nuclear deterrence, alliance politics, and escalation dynamics. His current book project analyzes divergence in military postures among U.S. allies under shared security guarantees.

Awards:

• Lucian Pye Award for Best Doctoral Thesis in Political Science, MIT (2025)

Lab and Institutional Affiliations: He conducts research through the UC IGCC and previously contributed to Harvard's Project on Managing the Atom and Notre Dame's International Security Center.