Welcome to “3 Questions with …”, a recurring feature on the Career Center blog. We’re asking alumni of all graduation years and career interests to share a bit of their experiences and advice.
3 Questions with Shaan Shaikh, A17, Fellow & Deputy Director, Center for Strategic and International Studies
1. In just a few sentences, please tell us about your current job/graduate program/vocational endeavor.
I’m a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a DC-based think tank that seeks to improve U.S. national security and defense policy. My research focuses on missiles, air defense, nuclear weapons, and emerging technologies.
2. How did your time at Tufts influence your career journey?
My favorite classes at Tufts gave me stories to tell and products to show off. For example, through EPIIC, I organized a conflict simulation for over 200 high schoolers and rediscovered how much I enjoyed event planning. As part of my Intro to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) class, I co-produced maps illustrating Chinese missile ranges, which were later used in a book by Professor Michael Beckley. Both of these experiences helped me land an internship (and later job) at CSIS post-graduation.
Perhaps most importantly career-wise, I secured a summer internship at the Department of Defense through the Tisch Summer Fellows program. I did not have much of a security studies background at the time, but the hiring manager (Bess Dopkeen, A04) was incredibly kind and figured I had some potential. I spent two months studying missile defense and really enjoyed it.
To be sure, I didn’t move straight from the Pentagon to CSIS. I still needed to narrow down my career interests, and Tufts helped me explore some options. A semester abroad in Jordan left me homesick and quickly quashed any plans of becoming a diplomat. An internship at a small non-profit was meaningful but highlighted the drawbacks of working at a resource-starved start-up. Overall, I had time to learn what I liked and disliked, which helped me pursue more suitable job opportunities.
3. What advice would you offer to a student who wants to pursue a career path like yours?
Aspiring think tankers should publish their research projects. Students often have dozens of class papers wasting away on their computers when they could improve, edit, and publish the best ones. They don’t need to publish their papers in major media outlets or academic journals — even throwing stuff up on a blog is useful for demonstrating their research skills and interests.
Students should also consider their comparative advantages. Some think tanks like to see applicants with technical skills, such as managing large databases or creating attractive and informative graphics. Others might seek applicants with experience on Capitol Hill or in foreign countries. Aspiring think tankers should think about what unique skills and experiences they bring to the table, and how they can best support policy research organizations.
