The Center for Nuclear Security Policy (CNSP) within the MIT Security Studies Program (SSP) aims to be a global hub for advancing policy-relevant research on nuclear security and promoting the development of the next generation of thought leaders in nuclear security. As the world enters a new nuclear age marked by a growing number of nuclear powers such as North Korea and possibly Iran, multiple peer nuclear adversaries, the potential evaporation of strategic arms control, new technologies, and anxious allies, improving understanding of nuclear security is now more important than ever.

The Center for Nuclear Security Policy will pursue educational and research activities to better understand the many challenges this new era poses and use that knowledge to help inform policies to mitigate these challenges. The Center will focus on a broad range of topics, including nuclear deterrence, escalation, conventional-nuclear integration, extended deterrence, emerging technologies and nuclear security, proliferation and non-proliferation, and arms control.

Core activities include:

Stanton Nuclear Security Fellows

The Center will host post-doctoral fellows in nuclear security policy to train the next generation of scholars and experts, continuing the fellowship program that the Stanton Foundation has generously supported within SSP since 2011. The fellows will be mentored by SSP faculty and given time to complete their doctoral dissertations or revise them for scholarly publication.

Annual Nuclear Security Fellows Workshop

The Center will organize an annual meeting of all fellows endowed by the Stanton Foundation at MIT and other institutions. The meeting will include opportunities to interact with senior scholars in the field and nuclear-related policymakers.

Senior Researchers and Fellows

The Center will host senior experts or researchers to conduct cutting-edge research on nuclear weapons and related technologies, and nuclear policy and operations.

Nuclear Security Junior Fellows

The Center will hire Junior Fellows to serve as research assistants for faculty, researchers, and fellows on topics related to nuclear security, providing the fellows with a “pre-PhD” training experience to prepare them for pursuing a doctoral degree in nuclear security.

International Nuclear Policy Fellows

The center will host early or mid-career defense or foreign affairs officials from the United States, Europe, and Asia to enhance understanding of nuclear issues in policy organizations where nuclear weapons are becoming increasingly salient. International Policy Fellows will participate in CNSP activities, attend courses, and write a capstone research paper under the supervision of CNSP faculty before returning to their government positions.

The Center for Nuclear Security Policy was established in July 2024 through a transformational gift from The Stanton Foundation, which was established by Frank Stanton, president of the broadcaster CBS from 1946 to 1971. Stanton’s involvement with nuclear issues began with his appointment to a committee convened by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954 to develop the first comprehensive plan for the survival of the U.S. following a nuclear attack. Stanton had lead responsibility for developing a plan for national and international communication in the aftermath of a nuclear incident. The foundation has focused most of its philanthropy on nuclear security and on sustaining free speech rights while bolstering the spread of accurate civic information.

Contact us at CNSP@mit.edu