Vanderbilt, Microsoft urge grad students, postdocs to think broadly about national security challenges

After the launch of the Institute of National Security, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars joined a special panel with Microsoft and institute leaders titled "Interdisciplinary Thought Leadership Across the Security Landscape."

The panel featured two experts from Microsoft-Vishal Amin, general manager of security solutions, and Lili Davoudian, director of technical sales-in conversation with institute Executive Director Douglas Adams

Paul Stob, director of the Program in Culture, Advocacy and Leadership (formerly American studies) and professor of communication studies, moderated a lively discussion about pressing national security challenges that require expertise and diverse perspectives beyond those of defense or technology.

Graduate and postdoctoral scholars researching in fields from computer science to anthropology discovered how cross-disciplinary collaboration and strategic partnerships across public and private sectors will be essential to solving current and emerging national security problems.

"As national security becomes increasingly intertwined with emerging technologies, it is essential that institutions like Vanderbilt University's Institute of National Security take the lead in preparing the next generation of leaders," Davoudian said. "By equipping students and professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to safeguard national interests, Vanderbilt is stepping forward as a key contributor to the safety and security of our global community."

Davoudian leads Microsoft's security technical specialists and has worked with the engineering division to launch key AI-based features on Microsoft's security platform. She and Amin, who is a Presidential Scholar who spearheads Microsoft's federal security growth and global philanthropic efforts, work together at the Spades Institute-a nonprofit designed to empower dedication to democracy, freedom and ethics. She is founding partner, and Amin is founder.

One of the panel's recurring themes was developing interdisciplinary talent pipelines to address a burgeoning national security workforce shortage-stressing that everyone is part of the national security fabric. As Amin put it, we can "look at everyone in here as having a superpower. . . . [We're] trying to change the world one conversation at a time."

The panelists also shared their perspectives the importance of diversity in innovation, of ethical decision making in security and technology, and of looking beyond the obvious data. Data must be complemented, they explained, with critical conversations and tough questions about policy and society to foster positive security and social impacts.

Panelists also fielded questions about balancing public and private interests, about when and how technology companies might altruistically partner with government, and about strategies for being more proactive than reactive in tackling national crises.

After the panel, Amin and Davoudian spent time talking with graduate and postdoctoral scholars about their career interests and goals. The event was at the Wond'ry, Vanderbilt's Innovation Center, and hosted by the Career Advancement and Engagement division's Graduate and Postdoctoral Scholars Team at the Career Center and the Corporate Partners Team, along with The Graduate School.