Libiao Pan Accepted to Doctoral Program
Libiao Pan, MANPTS ‘18, has been accepted into the War Studies Research MPhil/PhD program of King’s College London. His research will focus on understanding China’s contributions and engagement in export controls and counter proliferation financing in fulfilling UNSCR 1540 obligations.
Libiao describes the role of the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies (MIR) in securing his position: “During my on-campus study at the Middlebury Institute, I was able to polish my Russian skills with a content-based and tailor-made study model.
“Different from other Russian learning programs, MIR prepared me with not only the Russian language itself, but also enabled me to talk about nonproliferation-related issues in a professional manner through its Visiting Experts Program.”
“With the funding and network support of MIR, I was able to set my foot for the first time in Russia to attend the 2017 PIR Center International School on Global Security. The PIR Center also offered me an internship during 2017 summer, where I conducted independent research on China’s Policy on Korean Peninsula Nuclear Issue and China–Russia Strategic Coordination. I also got the opportunity to be a MIIS delegate of 2017-2018 Stanford US-Russia Forum, again, supported by MIR. Currently, I am interning at the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in Vienna. Here I am constantly tasked by my supervisor to conduct research in Russian, which turned out to be unchallenging for me since MIR has long prepared me with such skill. Soon, I will go to Vladivostok and Khabarovsk for the research trip to the Russian Far East. This MIR fully-funded experience will undoubtedly engage me more extensively with Russia.
“Looking back, I am extremely thankful for all the opportunities MIR has provided me. I was able to incorporate a Russian perspective in my research proposal, and I believe such uniqueness is a vital factor that contributed to my admission to King’s College London. All I have gained from MIR has turned out to be the assets that unlocked the door to a brand new world I never pictured in my mind. Last but not least, I consider Professor Vassilieva, director of MIR, not only as my mentor, but also a cared mother while I am thousands of miles away from home.”