| by Shahneela Tariq and NPTS ‘24

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Tariq, Shahneela
Shahneela Tariq MANPTS ’24 tapped an array of scholarship opportunities to continue her learning during the summer and supercharge networking for a future role in the nuclear security field.

The beach may have called this summer, but Shahneela Tariq didn’t answer.

And she has no regrets. Wrapping up her Master of Arts in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies this fall, Tariq saw the summer as a perfect opportunity to build her skills and expand her professional network in the nuclear field through several funded opportunities. Now she shares this account of her summer, along with some helpful tips for fellow students:

My summer was a vibrant tapestry of networking opportunities and intellectual growth—from competitions and conferences to working on a cybersecurity certification online.

We have access to some incredible programs and scholarships as master’s candidates at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. I share these thoughts in hopes that fellow Institute students will be inspired to seize these opportunities. 

I encourage you to start looking for summer opportunities as early as possible. This gives you more time to research, apply, and potentially secure multiple offers. It’s also critical for getting funding. Knowing I would have just one summer during my graduate studies, I started looking for opportunities as soon as I started my graduate program.

Summer Highlights

Over the summer, I competed in a cybersecurity competition, attended three industry conferences, and worked on a cybersecurity certification. I received funding that covered nearly 100 percent of this, including my travel to two states and two countries. Here’s how it played out:

  • May 13–14: Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge, New York City
  • May 17: Arms Control Negotiation Academy Conference, Reykjavik, Iceland
  • May 20–24: IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security, Vienna, Austria
  • July 21–25: Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Portland, Oregon
  • Ongoing: Scholarship for the online six-month WINS Academy Certification Programme for Cybersecurity in the Nuclear Industry

TIP: Don’t overlook the smaller events. While the IAEA conference in Vienna was huge, with over 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries, I actually found it easier to make connections with people at the Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, which included just around 350 people, most of whom stayed at the same hotel.

Trust and Safety Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge by Atlantic Council 

The Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge is an annual policy competition held at different locations in the U.S. and globally. MIIS fielded three teams this year, taking part in the competitions in Washington, D.C., New York, and Geneva (virtually).

I was proud to be a member of an all-women team that competed in New York. These competitions are great for developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in cybersecurity policy and strategy. We were presented with a realistic, evolving cyber crisis scenario and were tasked with analyzing the threat, developing recommendations, and presenting our findings to a panel of experts. This experience helped me in developing the ability to think critically about complex issues involving emerging technologies (e.g., AI), identify potential solutions, and communicate effectively. 

TIP: Join student clubs at MIIS, like our cyber group. They provide a great platform to meet new people who share your interests. These connections can be invaluable for future career opportunities. Learn more about the Cyber Collaborative.

NY cybersecurity competition
Four nonproliferation and terrorism students from the Institute competed in the Cyber 9/12 competition in New York City.

The Arms Control Negotiation Academy, ACONA

If you can attend a professional conference or two while you’re at MIIS, you’ll be glad you did. I attended ACONA, which is a dedicated training program for the next generation of security negotiators. The one-day conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, brings together ACONA fellows to share their experience and discuss important topics in the arms control field; these included “Strategies for Global Security: Nordic Nations’ Approaches to Nuclear Threats”; “A Chinese Perspective on Arms Control”; and “Innovation Round Table: Design Thinking, Negotiation Campaigns, and New Ideas for Nuclear Diplomacy.”

For me, the highlight of the event was the closing keynote: ”Modern Diplomacy and the Future of the Nuclear Order” by Melissa Parke, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and former minister for International Development, Commonwealth of Australia. 

IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security

I also attended the IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security, which is one of the most significant events in the field of nuclear security. This year the theme of the conference was “Shaping the Future,” and IAEA selected a cohort of young people to attend IAEA ICONS 2024.  

Attendees at this conference must be nominated by a government or by an organization that has been invited by the IAEA. I attended the conference as part of the delegation from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, which is based at the Institute. 

The IAEA conference, held at its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, brought together government officials, nuclear experts, and industry representatives from around the world. I found it particularly valuable for gaining new perspectives on the latest trends and advancements in the field of nuclear security.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference
At the conference, Shahneela Tariq, representing CNS, met up with Margarita Kalinina-Pohl, CBRN Security Program director at CNS, and visiting fellow Inna Grigalashvili, international project manager at the Agency of Nuclear and Radiation Safety in Georgia.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization within the United Nations system. Its primary goal is to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose. The ICONS series of conferences is an important part of the IAEA’s efforts to promote nuclear security worldwide. The next conference is scheduled for 2028. Meanwhile, students can pursue the following opportunities: 

TIP: Join a professional association in your field and investigate your options for attending a professional conference.

Cyber Security Course: WINS Academy 

In June 2024, I received a scholarship for the WINS Academy Certification Programme for Cybersecurity in the Nuclear Industry. WINS is the World Institute of Nuclear Security, a nongovernmental organization based in Vienna that provides a range of professional development programs on nuclear and radioactive source security management.

The WINS course is online and self-paced with a timeline to complete it in six months. At the end of the course, students have to complete an online exam to get certification. 

See all courses.

Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM)

The Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) is a professional organization dedicated to promoting the safe, secure, and effective management of nuclear materials. Its global community includes professionals who work in the nuclear industry, government agencies, and research institutions. 

I attended the 65th Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management in Portland, Oregon, thanks to a grant from the Office of Radiological Security. I presented a paper titled “Women in Nuclear Security and Radiological Security: Addressing Underrepresentation and Promoting Progress.” The paper focused on highlighting tight-knit networks and the lack of role models in the Global South as the most important barriers to increasing women’s representation in the nuclear security field.

Advancing Women in Nuclear Security
Shahneela Tariq spoke on a panel on advancing women in nuclear security at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the INMM.

I particularly valued the technical sessions covering a wide range of topics, including safeguards, security, nonproliferation, facility operations, measurement technology, and addressing new threats to nuclear security, such as cyberattacks and emerging technologies. The intimate gathering provided ample opportunities for networking and building relationships with colleagues from around the world.

I’m excited to say that we now have an active student chapter of INMM at the Institute, with Professor George Moore serving as faculty advisor. Through the club, there will be potential opportunities to attend international conferences, technical programs and workshops; tour facilities like the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; and hold dinner and luncheon meetings. Join the INMM chapter at the Institute by filling out this form or by emailing me.

FINAL TIP: Visit the Institute’s Academic Resources page for information on fellowships, scholarships, and many other funding opportunities open to students. 

Shahneela Tariq will complete her MA in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies at the Institute in December 2024. She previously worked as a lecturer in international relations at the School of Integrated Social Sciences, University of Lahore and has completed various fellowships in international law and nuclear security.