“Every Midweek Brainstorming is like a chamber concert; there are no accidental people present. A discussion of a problem or an expert report debated by a small number of highly qualified professionals makes it possible to learn new things and, more significantly, to discuss the nature of the problem honestly, regardless of the personalities involved".

Pavel Luzin, PhD in Political Sciences, PIR Center Alumnus

“It was useful, I’ve got several new ides” – such feedback is the main criterion of success for the organizers of the Midweek Brainstorming sessions, a series of informal seminars hosted by PIR Center. Interested people gather at PIR Center, including researchers, Foreign Ministries and Defense Ministries diplomats, analysts, engineers and journalists. Some of them are young specialists; some have decades of experience under their belt.

What needs to be done to ensure the long-awaited success of the military reform? The future of China’s nuclear policy – is Beijing willing to consider reducing its arsenal, or is it trying to ramp it up? Is the new constitution of Kyrgyzstan in line with the national character of the country? Will it calm the country down, or lead to another revolution? What exactly is being studied by hundreds of students from Myanmar at nuclear universities? These and many other fascinating questions have been discussed during Midweek Brainstorming sessions over the past year.

The Midweek Brainstorming sessions are held in two formats. One is where an experienced expert takes the center stage; the other is where young researchers defend their theses and thereby begin their professional career. As a rule, the topic chosen for such theses is something new, with no experienced experts available for that narrow subject. But the event is always attended by professionals who can give valuable advice as to what to change, what to add or remove from the thesis, and how to polish it.

The defense of a thesis turns into an insightful debate between real professionals, which especially impresses the young researchers. If the outcome is positive, the young trainee’s piece of research can be recommended for publication. And after such a discussion, an article even by a beginner can take its rightful place among works by well-known professionals. Tea and snacks are offered during the two-hour sessions.

Midweek Brainstorming Sessions:

• Presentations of research papers at PIR Center – new projects by experienced professionals, and first projects by young scholars
• Free exchange of opinion and thoughts on key international security issues
• Meetings with colleagues and new interesting people

For information about the upcoming Midweek Brainstorming sessions, please call +7 (495) 987 19 15 or check “Events Schedule” at our main page

Full project description

«Roundtable discussions and seminars that are hallmarks of the Summer School provide opportunities for broad discussions among the participants. Especially, I want to point out the importance and practical significance of the debates. All topics helped to create a new vision of global security challenges, to expand my knowledge. Amazingly professional speakers, the methodology for conducting classes, presenters always give full and succinct answers to questions. A balanced approach to the selection of participants made it possible to get acquainted with approaches to solving problems in different countries».

Oksana Bosiuk, Attaché,

Embassy of Ukraine in Russian Federation

Full project description

“Internship at the PIR Center was very beneficial in many ways. On professional level, I was challenged every day and learned much about Russian policies, interests and perspectives on various security questions. This opportunity gave me a real taste of what working in an efficient think tank is. On a personal level, working for the PIR has pushed me outside my comfort zone into a completely unknown environment. But despite my limited skills in Russian, I had the feeling of being completely accepted and integrated in the team. All in all, my only regret will be the short term of my internship!”

Lucien Claire – graduate from the University of Kent, School of Politics & International Relations, Specialization “Politics and International Relations”,  PIR Center intern in 2011.

INTERNSHIP AT THE PIR CENTER FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF GLOBAL SECURITY

Discover your career in the expert community in the field of international relations! The PIR Center is the leading independent organization for research in international relations in Russia. Applications for a 2021 internship in the Center are now open. 

PIR Center’s internship program offers young researchers an excellent opportunity to participate in the analysis and coverage of key processes in international security. The program attracts talented young specialists from leading universities and research organizations, providing them a chance to realize their full academic potential and helping them to join the ranks of experts in the field of international security. Graduates of the program have gone on to embark on a scientific career in leading academic centers (Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Higher School of Economics (HSE), Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and others) or to work for the foreign and other ministries of the countries of the CIS as well as international companies and organizations. 

The spread of coronavirus does not erase multiple threats of nuclear proliferation in the world. Both the former and the latter are global threats. Therefore, despite the current epidemiological situation, PIR Center continues to conduct its research and educational activities remotely.

The PIR Center internship program entails:

• Development of an independent research project in the field of international relations* in professional consultation with the employees and advisors of the PIR Center and with the opportunity to meet experts from federal and scientific organizations. The project offers young specialists the unique opportunity to present their work to the scientific community by publishing their research in Russia’s leading journal on questions of international security, the Security Index;
• Participation in the scientific and information projects of the PIR Center and its partners;
• Administrative work related to the research, publishing, and information projects of the PIR Center and its partners.

Core research areas:

• Nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, developments in nuclear energy;
• New technologies and challenges to global security (military robots, artificial intelligence)

Candidates should:

• Display a strong interest in research on international security; 
• Be studying in the final year of an undergraduate degree or enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program in the fields of international relations, regional studies, oriental studies, journalism, contemporary history, or political science;
• Be fluent in Russian;
• Be proficient in English (knowledge of additional foreign languages is considered an advantage);
• Have strong communication skills;
• Show responsibility and attention to detail;
• Be able to work full-time and on a demanding schedule.

The internship is located in Moscow. In 2021, internships will be offered in three terms:

* The exact starting date and the subject of the research project will be negotiated with successful applicants.

In order to apply, candidates should submit the following documents via email at [email protected]: 

• A detailed Russian-language CV indicating main research interests;
• A letter of recommendation from a department head/scientific advisor/advisor/mentor;
• A list of all available publications, as well as one full publication in electronic form (alternatively, if your work is available online, you may provide an active link).

About the PIR Center:

• PIR Center is a think tank involved in research, informational, educational, and consulting work in the field of international security.
• Its interesting and challenging work is performed by a creative and energetic team of experienced specialists in international affairs and highly motivated young talents.
• PIR Center is engaged in active cooperation with dozens of partners in Russia and all over the world, including ministries and other authorities, international organizations, universities, other research and educational centers as well as corporate networks.

The training of young specialists in the field of international security forms one of the central priorities of the PIR Center. Our internship programs, which attract talented young students and scholars from Russia, the CIS and other countries, contribute new talent to the expert community. Successful candidates receive the opportunity to develop their own research project in the field of international relations in professional consultation with the research employees and advisors of the PIR Center and with the opportunity to meet members of the Russian federal and academic research community.

For further information regarding the internship program at the PIR Center please contact us by phone: +7 (499) 940-09-83, fax: +7 (495) 987-19-14 or by email: [email protected].

The work of the group was completed in July of 2014. Information is not being updated

On April 8, 2010, the day when the New START Treaty was signed, PIR Center in collaboration with the Ploughshares Fund established the Sustainable Partnership with Russia (SuPR) Group. The SuPR Group's main objective is to support continuing and long-lasting success in the efforts by the Russian Federation and the United States to work as partners on two of the most important issues on the global security agenda: nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear disarmament.

All members of the SuPR Group are leading experts on U.S.-Russian relations, nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. The Group also includes one media representative from each side to make its work transparent for the public in both countries.

On February 2-3, 2011, the SuPR Group met in Gstaad, Switzerland, to discuss the next steps in nuclear disarmament. SuPR Group members also discussed how both countries could better work together on the most urgent regional nuclear nonproliferation challenge – the Middle East. As a result of the meeting, several recommendations to the U.S. and Russian presidents were formulated. The expert recommendations sent to the White House and Kremlin received substantial press attention and the expert responses from Mikhail Ulyanov, Director of The Department for security and disarmament, and Director of Russian Institute of Strategic Studies, Gen. (retired) Leonid Reshetnikov.

On December 6-7, 2011 in Washington D.C. PIR Center together with Ploughshares Fund held meeting of Sustainable Partnership with Russia(SuPR) Group on the “Future of the Russian-US Strategic Dialogue: Beyond Deterrence – Building a Sustainable Agenda”. At the meeting, presentations were also made by Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller, Special Assistant to the President and White House Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass destruction, Proliferation and Terrorism Gary Samore, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia in the USA Sergey Kislyak. The SuPR members also held a briefing with top US experts on international security issues and bilateral relations.

On March 14, 2012 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his public speech gave positive assessment of SuPR work. He mentioned “I would like to emphasize the initiative of PIR Center and Ploughshares Fund to establish Sustainable Partnership with Russia (SuPR) Group. On February 2011 the SuPR Group held the meeting, afterwards the expert recommendations were prepared. These are competent and professional recommendations. They were sent to the President and now we examine these ideas”.

SuPR Group Members

Additional materials of SuPR

Photo gallery

For all questions related to SUPR, please contact us by tel.: +7 (495) 987-19-15, fax: +7 (495) 987-19-14.