My name is Lindsay Rand and I am a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation.
I have B.A.s in physics and classical studies from Carleton College, an M.S. in nuclear health physics from Georgetown University, and an M.P.P. and PhD in international security from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy.
I leverage my dual background in physics and public policy to research sociotechnical issues at the intersection of science and international security. I primarily focus on nuclear and quantum technologies, but have also researched various sociotechnical dimensions of hypersonics, swarming, computer vision, and space technologies. One of my favorite aspects of this type of interdisciplinary research is writing in a way that can be accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences.
In contrast to traditional academics, I’ve gained valuable policymaking insight through working with practitioners in a various government and government-adjacent settings. So far, I have experience advising members of the Department of Defense, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Homeland Security. I’ve also worked on research projects with folks at RAND Corporation, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and members of the private sector. Understanding the viewpoints of these diverse stakeholders has given me a better idea of the broader impact that governance efforts may have.
Lindsay Rand 