Going into my internship at CSD, I had no idea what to expect—both from the work and from life in Bulgaria. After two months working with the law and security teams under the guidance of Tatyana Novossiolova, I can confidently say that my time at CSD has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and I wholeheartedly recommend it to other students. 

I worked on background research for a variety projects including Russian disinformation related to nuclear weapons, Russian cyber-attacks on critical WMD infrastructure in NATO countries, and the impact of artificial intelligence on fundamental rights. Alongside this, I took on smaller administrative tasks that allowed me to gain insight into the day-to-day life of working at a think tank—whether it was proofreading blog posts or helping prepare funding proposals.

But my experience wasn’t just about work. I fell in love with the city of Sofia, enjoying new foods and drinks, attempting to pick up bits of the language, and exploring both Bulgaria and nearby countries. My time at CSD has been truly unforgettable, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything I learned.