The Bulletin welcomes 2026 editorial fellows

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is proud to announce its 2026 class of editorial fellows, including: 

• Jack Kennedy, a Doctoral Candidate and Research Associate at the Centre for International Security at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin 

• Dr. Ilias Georgakopoulos-Soares, an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at The University of Texas at Austin 

• Naveen Krishnan, a Belfer Young Leaders Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs 

• María de los Ángeles Orfila, a Science Journalist who covers climate change 

• Jacquelyn Schneider, a Hoover Fellow at Stanford University and Director of the Hoover Wargaming and Crisis Simulation Initiative 

• Adrian Shahbaz, the Director of Digital Democracy at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems 

The Bulletin’s Editorial Fellows Program rests on the understanding that science is advancing rapidly, raising political and ethical questions whose answers will shape the future safety and security of our planet.   

Editorial fellows have experience in one of the Bulletin’s three main areas: nuclear risk, climate change, and disruptive technologies, including biosafety and  AI. They have an established record of publishing quality work or have been identified as an emerging leader in their respective field. Fellows produce a regular column for which they are compensated. The program is a one-year commitment with the opportunity to renew.  

Learn more about the 2026 editorial fellows: 

Jack Kennedy is a doctoral candidate and research associate at the Centre for International Security at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin. His research focuses include strategic stability under conditions of multipolarity, extended deterrence, and coercive diplomacy. He previously worked at the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office and as a journalist. He holds a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.  

“Jack is a rigorous scholar and a gifted writer,” said Bulletin Nuclear Risk Editor François Diaz-Maurin. “With a foundation in journalism and expertise in arms control and strategic studies, he is a perfect contributor to the Bulletin‘s nuclear vertical. Driven to uncover and report on critical, unseen issues, Jack is on track to become one of his generation’s leading thinkers in the field.” 

Dr. Ilias Georgakopoulos-Soares is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at The University of Texas at Austin. His laboratory develops computational and artificial intelligence approaches to understand genome evolution, genomic instability, and human disease, with a particular emphasis on cancer. His recent work focuses on bioagents, genomic foundation models, and AI applications in biosecurity, including model reliability and safety. Dr. Georgakopoulos-Soares studied Biological Sciences at Imperial College London and Mechanical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, received his PhD from the University of Cambridge, and completed his postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco. Before joining UT Austin, he was an Assistant Professor at Penn State College of Medicine. 

“It’s a real pleasure to be working with Ilias,” said Bulletin Biosecurity Editor Matt Field. “Ilias’s lab at The University of Texas at Austin, where he is an assistant professor, uses computational biology to study genomes and human disease. There he also researches AI biosafety and biosecurity. I’m excited to see what his interest in exploring how agentic AI will affect the life sciences plays out in his articles for the Bulletin. “ 

Naveen Krishnan is a Belfer Young Leaders Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, where his research examines AI-enabled cyber operations and the balance of power between the United States and China. His work has covered emerging technologies and international security, including biosecurity and economic security. He holds an MPP from Harvard Kennedy School and an MBA from the Wharton School and studied neuroscience at Vanderbilt University. He is a polyglot, intelligence officer in the US Navy Reserve, Boren Fellow in Taiwan, and was a Liu Xiaobo Fellow at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. His writing has appeared in War on the Rocks, Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica, and ChinaTalk. 

“I’m very excited to work with Naveen,” said Bulletin Biosecurity Editor Matt Field. “He has an impressive background researching frontier AI, biotechnology, and the technological competition unfolding between the United States and China. As a fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center and as a researcher who works with experts such as former US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, I know Naveen will have a lot to draw on in his upcoming work for the Bulletin. Naveen’s writing has appeared in War on the Rocks, The Diplomat, and other outlets. I can’t wait to see what he does for us.” 

Jacquelyn Schneider is a Hoover Fellow at Stanford University and Director of the Hoover Wargaming and Crisis Simulation Initiative. Her research focuses on the intersection of emerging technology, national security, and military strategy. Schneider earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from George Washington University, previously served as an Air Force intelligence officer, and held academic positions at the Naval War College. A widely cited expert, her scholarship includes The Hand Behind Unmanned (Oxford University Press), alongside commentary and policy analysis published in Foreign Affairs, The Wall Street Journal, and the Financial Times. 

“I’m thrilled to welcome Jackie as a disruptive technologies fellow,” said Bulletin Disruptive Technologies Editor Sara Goudarzi. “Jackie’s enthusiasm for and expertise in examining how people and institutions respond to innovations will offer Bulletin audiences important insight into the evolving role of technology and private industry in politics and conflict.”  

María de los Ángeles Orfila is a science journalist from Uruguay whose work has appeared in Science, National Geographic, Live Science, Discover, and other international outlets. She covers stories that explore the richness, challenges, and scientific frontiers of Latin America. In 2023, she was selected for The Open Notebook’s Sharon Dunwoody Mentoring Program for science journalists.  

“Last year, science journalist María de los Ángeles Orfila contributed thoughtful articles on wildfire regimes, engineered glaciers, and climate conferences in Latin America,” said Bulletin Climate Change Editor Jessica McKenzie. “I’m very much looking forward to working with her on a new slate of articles about climate science and policy this year!” 

Adrian Shahbaz serves as the Director of Digital Democracy at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), where he leads the organization’s programmatic strategy on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and information integrity. Prior to joining IFES, he was Director of Technology and Democracy and later Vice President for Research and Analysis at Freedom House. Earlier in his career, he was a researcher at the United Nations, European Parliament, and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. He holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics. 

“We are delighted to name Adrian one of this year’s disruptive technologies editorial fellows,” said Bulletin Disruptive Technologies Editor Sara Goudarzi. “At a time of rapid technological change and growing challenges to governance, Adrian’s expertise will be invaluable in illuminating the complex forces at play and their implications for the future of democracy.” 

Learn more about the Bulletin’s Editorial Fellows Program.