Qualitative Research

As part of obtaining my PhD in political science from MIT, I was trained in qualitative research design. I have the tools to answer complex questions, such as developing appropriate case selection and measurement strategies, and through my dissertation research, my research for the RAND Corporation, and my writings for The Diplomat, I have gained extensive experience conducting archival research and interviews with practitioners and subject matter experts. I am excellent at finding multiple different sources of data to answer my research questions, including but not limited to: national and local government reports, contemporary news coverage, and politicians’ personal webpages and Tweets. I have also conducted research at the U.S. Library of Congress in Washington, DC, and the Japanese National Diet Library in Tokyo. I use English and Japanese primary and secondary sources as well as interviews in English and Japanese in my research. Furthermore, I have honed my writing skills to be able to effectively communicate the conclusions of my research and analysis.

Public Engagement

I have extensive experience with public engagement including: giving talks and lectures; writing peer-reviewed articles, op-eds, think tank pieces, and book reviews; hosting and speaking on podcasts; and moderating public panels. I have given multiple talks at MIT; in addition, I have given talks at the University of Tokyo, Yale University, Harvard Kennedy School, and the Horizons in Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy Workshop hosted by Columbia University. I gave a guest lecture on Japanese politics and foreign policy to U.S. diplomats, and guest lectured on “Japanese Security” and “U.S.-Japan Alliance” to Georgetown University undergraduate students. I have the skills to disseminate my research findings to and engage in contemporary debates with the public through many different mediums.

Relationship Management

When I transitioned from academia to the policy world, I rapidly learned many new skills. The most important of these was relationship management - whether it be with project sponsors at RAND or colleagues in the State Department. I am confident in my ability to manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders in the pursuit of my organization’s objectives - whether that is securing another research contract or advancing a policy objective.