Margaret E. Kosal

Margaret E. Kosal is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Institute of Technology. She specializes in national security, emerging technologies, and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Her research focuses on the intersection of technology, strategy, and governance, with expertise in biological, chemical, and nuclear defense. Kosal has held roles as a Senior Adjunct Scholar at West Point’s Modern War Institute and a Strategic Studies Group advisor to the U.S. Army Chief of Staff. She co-founded a sensor company developing medical and explosives detection technologies.

Education:

• Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• B.S., Chemistry, University of Southern California

Research Interests:

Her work addresses the security implications of emerging technologies like nanotechnology, biotechnology, and AI, emphasizing nonproliferation and dual-use risks. She explores how technological diffusion affects national security, particularly in the context of WMD proliferation and strategic stability. Her recent focus includes neurotechnology, CRISPR, and the role of cognitive neuroscience in defense.

Publications:

Kosal authored Nanotechnology for Chemical and Biological Defense (2009) and co-edited volumes such as Disruptive and Game Changing Technologies in Modern Warfare (2019), recognized as a NATO Top Book. Her articles analyze topics like BCI adoption, AI governance, and synthetic biology risks.

Awards:

• 2015 CETL/BP Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
• 2012 Ivan Allen Jr. Legacy Faculty Award
• 2007 OSD Award for Excellence

Advising & Grants:

She mentors students in international affairs and technology policy, with grants from DoD, DTRA, and NATO. Her work with the Army and intelligence community addresses institutional and technological challenges in modern warfare.

Labs/Teams:

Co-founder of a sensor company and member of editorial boards for Journal of Strategic Security and Politics and the Life Sciences. She chairs U.S. National Academies committees on WMD terrorism and serves on defense-related advisory groups.