MIT-South Asia

Featured News

News

Dr. Rand and Ambassador Shringla to join MIT as distinguished fellows at the Center for International Studies

March 13, 2025

News

BRICS in focus: A conversation with Dr. Mihaela Papa

January 31, 2025

News

The BRICS bloc is growing — and Trump’s tariff threat isn’t expected to put off aspiring members

January 17, 2025

News

Making classical music and math more accessible

December 19, 2024

News

Trump’s warning to BRICS on US dollar adds to SE Asia’s worries

December 04, 2024

Launch a new research collaboration

The next round of the MIT-India Seed Fund opens in September 2025.

Learn more

Our Experts

Staff

Megha Hegde

Program Manager, MIT-South Asia Program

Faculty and Researchers

Pawan Sinha

Faculty Director, MIT-South Asia Program

Professor, Brain and Cognitive Sciences

Faculty and Researchers

Sana Aiyar

Associated Faculty, MIT-South Asia Program

Associate Professor, History

Faculty and Researchers

Mihaela Papa

Director of Research

Principal Research Scientist

Faculty and Researchers

Vipin Narang

Director, Center for Nuclear Security Policy

Frank Stanton Professor of Nuclear Security and Political Science

Fellows

Pranay Vaddi

CNSP Senior Nuclear Fellow

Research Fellow

Events

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Opportunities

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MISTI South Asia

MISTI South Asia matches MIT students with tailored internship, research, teaching and study opportunities in India and Nepal.

Explore MISTI South Asia

Global Seed Funds

The MIT-India Seed Fund grant program enables new collaborations between faculty and research scientists at MIT and their counterparts in India.

Browse seed funds

Student Spotlights

CIS makes it possible for MIT students to experience the world while advancing knowledge, tackling tough challenges, and preparing for lives of impact, service, and leadership in an interconnected global society.

Trevor's story

Master of Science in Urban Studies and Planning (SM)

Trevor Kodzis is considering a PhD program and this summer experience was an opportunity for him to gain fieldwork experience and build relationships in the international development and urban planning sector.

Josiah's story

Mechanical Engineering '26

Josiah Shimadle shared that being in a new place was the most stimulating way to learn. He worked on a drone intended to deliver medical supplies to remote hospitals in rural Nepal.

Student opportunities

Publications

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Report

Papa, Mihaela, and Evan S. Lieberman. “Global Climate Adaptation: Overcoming Political and Policy Challenges.” MIT Center for International Studies, Post-Workshop Report (April 2025).

April 2025

Paper

Adamson, Fiona B, and Kelly M Greenhill. “Deal-Making, Diplomacy and Transactional Forced Migration.” International Affairs (London) 99, no. 2 (2023): 707–25.

March 2023

Paper

Emmrich, Christoph, Joseph McQuade, Sana Aiyar, and Thibaut d’Hubert. “Towards a Burma-Inclusive South Asian Studies: A Roundtable.” Modern Asian Studies 57, no. 1 (2023): 283–320.

May 2022

Paper

Aiyar, Sana. “Colonialism’s Afterlives and Invocations of Oceanic History.” Indian Ocean Current: Six Artistic Narratives, edited by Prasannan Parthasarathi, 74-83. Chestnut Hill, MA: McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, 2020.

May 2020

Book

“The Future of Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons Program” Strategic Asia 2013-2014: Asia in the Second Nuclear Age

National Bureau of Asian Research

2013

Book

“Pakistan’s Counterinsurgency Strategy” Talibanistan: Negotiating the Borders Between Terror, Politics, and Religion

Oxford University Press

2013

“Pakistan’s Counterinsurgency Strategy” Talibanistan: Negotiating the Borders Between Terror, Politics, and Religion

Featured News

CIS congratulates our 2025 graduates

Robert Wilhelm visits CIS

MIT without borders

MIT Global Seed Funds announces recipients of its 2024-2025 cycle

US policy on BRICS: A temporary fix or a strategic reset?

Dr. Rand and Ambassador Shringla to join MIT as distinguished fellows at the Center for International Studies

BRICS in focus: A conversation with Dr. Mihaela Papa

The BRICS bloc is growing — and Trump’s tariff threat isn’t expected to put off aspiring members

Making classical music and math more accessible

Trump’s warning to BRICS on US dollar adds to SE Asia’s worries

Our Experts

Megha Hegde

Pawan Sinha

Sana Aiyar

Mihaela Papa

Vipin Narang

Pranay Vaddi

Events

Opportunities

Student Spotlights

Trevor's story

Josiah's story

Publications

Papa, Mihaela, and Evan S. Lieberman. “Global Climate Adaptation: Overcoming Political and Policy Challenges.” MIT Center for International Studies, Post-Workshop Report (April 2025).

Adamson, Fiona B, and Kelly M Greenhill. “Deal-Making, Diplomacy and Transactional Forced Migration.” International Affairs (London) 99, no. 2 (2023): 707–25.

Emmrich, Christoph, Joseph McQuade, Sana Aiyar, and Thibaut d’Hubert. “Towards a Burma-Inclusive South Asian Studies: A Roundtable.” Modern Asian Studies 57, no. 1 (2023): 283–320.

Aiyar, Sana. “Colonialism’s Afterlives and Invocations of Oceanic History.” Indian Ocean Current: Six Artistic Narratives, edited by Prasannan Parthasarathi, 74-83. Chestnut Hill, MA: McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, 2020.

“The Future of Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons Program” Strategic Asia 2013-2014: Asia in the Second Nuclear Age

“Pakistan’s Counterinsurgency Strategy” Talibanistan: Negotiating the Borders Between Terror, Politics, and Religion