CGSR Research Associate – Summer 2025

Position description

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are committed to a diverse and equitable workforce with an inclusive culture that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, ideas, experiences, and perspectives. This is essential to innovation and creativity for continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$6,620 – $8,040 Monthly

This position is under a step structure.  Please note that the step is determined by your academic level. Transcripts are required.

Job Description

The Center for Global Security Research (CGSR) was established at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in 1996 to bring together experts from the science, technology, and policy communities to address pressing national security challenges. For over 20 years, CGSR has engaged diverse perspectives on topics important to national security, deterrence, diplomacy, dual-use technology, arms control, nonproliferation, space, cyber, climate, biosecurity, and energy security.

We have openings in Summer 2025 for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students or recent graduates to engage in practical research on global security topics. Students will work with CGSR over the duration of three to four months as a research associate (RA). RAs will engage in practical research to further their educational and career goals, while also supporting the development of strategies for national security. Examples of relevant fields of research include nuclear deterrence, arms control, nonproliferation, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, space, biological & chemical security, and energy and climate security.

CGSR’s objectives are as follows:

• To explore the dynamics of potential 21st century strategic conflicts (i.e., those with a potential nuclear aspect) and to formulate ideas about how to achieve U.S. deterrence and other objectives in such conflicts.
• To explore the sources and characteristics of strategic competition in the emerging security environment and to formulate organizing concepts to enhance the competitive position of the United States and its allies and partners over the long term.
• To identify whether and how technically based approaches can address new challenges to national and international security.
• To catalyze broader national and international thinking about the requirements of effective deterrence, assurance, and strategic stability in a changed and changing security environment.
• To assist in the development of new generations of experts motivated by a clear view of the changed and changing security environment, including in the fields of biological and chemical security as well as energy and climate security.

More information on CGSR, its research focus areas, and its publications can be found at https://cgsr.llnl.gov/.

This job will be closed to applicants on February 10, 2025.

You will

• Conduct an independent research project on an agreed upon topic aligned with CGSR research priorities.
• Support the CGSR organization through contributions to ongoing research activities. Tasks may include contributing to literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, and workshop summary reports.
• Provide analysis to ongoing work, involving a moderate to high degree of technical and analytic complexity.
• Assist in the planning and execution of workshops to support CGSR research efforts.
• Gather and analyze data and information in support of broader CGSR research efforts.
• Participate in research planning and evaluation discussions with other members of the CGSR staff.
• Attend relevant research seminars, speakers’ series, and workshops.
• Present research to LLNL staff at end of the assignment.
• Prepare end-of-assignment technical report or publication.
• Perform all assignments in accordance with ES&H, security, and business practice requirements and policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications

• The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 3112, generally prohibits citizens of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea without dual US citizenship or legal permanent residence from accessing specific non-public areas of national security or nuclear weapons facilities.  The restrictions of NDAA Section 3112 apply to this position.  To be qualified for this position, Candidates must be eligible to access the Laboratory in compliance with Section 3112.
• Must be currently enrolled in an accredited university and actively pursuing a graduate degree or have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a field of research aligned with CGSR analytic priorities. Areas of study include international relations and/or security, political science, economics, public policy, emerging technologies, nonproliferation, energy and/or climate studies, biosecurity, foreign language studies, or related fields.
• Demonstrated academic and/or professional achievement in a relevant field of research aligned with CGSR analytic priorities.
• Strong record of independent research and publication, or a strong proposal of research to be done while at CGSR and in future academic and professional settings.
• Ability to work in a team environment.

 

Application instructions

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