This summer I interned at the MIT Washington Office, which serves as MIT’s “embassy” in DC. My main project focused on the evolving US-China relationship and its implications for several policy areas of concern for research universities such as immigration policy, research security, and federal R&D spending. Through weekly policy briefings and panel discussions, I additionally gained exposure to an array of science policy topics from innovation in renewable energy to 5G infrastructure.

Throughout the summer I was responsible for attending and writing up summaries on Congressional hearings, university association meetings, government agency webinars, and other events relevant to the Washington Office. I also had the opportunity to contribute to the weekly “Federal Update” newsletter, which is circulated among MIT faculty and administration, and correspond with MIT’s Office of the President on US-China relations. The internship was an incredibly valuable experience, giving me a first-hand look into the policymaking process.