Sojun Park, a postdoctoral associate at the MIT Center for International Studies (CIS), recently delivered an enlightening presentation on the political acumen that drives the global diffusion of AI technologies. His talk, which was a vital part of the CIS Global Research and Policy Seminar, drew an audience from across the institute, underscoring the sense of support and community this scholar enjoys.
Sojun’s voyage to MIT was marked by the pursuit of profound connections and interdisciplinary research. As a postdoc at the Center for International Studies, he found an intellectual home that not only grounded him but also dramatically transformed his perspectives. “My work directly connects to what CIS faculty have previously done on international trade and security. I’ve been tremendously motivated by these scholars,” Park reflected.
He continued to share that the interdisciplinary environment at MIT, and specifically at CIS, has been critical in nurturing his research. CIS serves as a meeting point for faculty from diverse fields like political science, economics, and managerial sciences. Interest piqued by the CIS Postdoctoral Associate Program, Park applied, hoping to cultivate his own interdisciplinary research.
The benefits of his appointment were palpable. Alongside the privilege of an academic year at MIT and a dedicated office at CIS, Park was afforded the freedom to concentrate on his own research. This liberty led him to explore interests concurrent with the broader CIS community, ranging from AI to global governance. Along the way, Park has been prolific in his publications, contributing pieces to the Review of International Organizations and the Review of International Political Economy.
Moreover, he continues to work ardently on his forthcoming book, which examines the legitimate transfer of technologies across international borders, mostly focusing on the circumstances under which large entities would voluntarily share their technologies with smaller, developing businesses.
A native of Seoul, South Korea, Sojun speaks about the problem-solving mindset imbued in him through his educational journey. He recounts a turning point in his high school where a puzzling exam question led him down the path to academia. His quest for answers followed him to Korea University, where he delved into international studies and economics.
Over time he embraced the larger world of academic exploration, participating in an exchange program at the University of Texas at Austin. He studied political game theory, exploring the interplay of strategic decisions in diplomacy and trade, and propelling his interest in quantitative methods. This led him to the United States for an MA and PhD in political science at Princeton University.
Nowadays, Park intertwines research and teaching, an experience he finds very fulfilling. Different from his upbringing in South Korea, he appreciates the interactive classrooms in the United States. He treasured learning something from each student he interacted with, affirming his career in academic research and teaching.
During the Spring 2026 semester, he seizes the opportunity to guide two CIS undergraduate fellows in developing a dataset examining international trade in green technologies. Generous support by the CIS Undergraduate Fellows Program allows him to work in conjunction with these soon-to-be scholars.
Park’s time at CIS has spun into a rewarding career. By the fall of 2026, he will be joining the National University of Singapore where he’ll draw on his experiences from CIS and MIT to foster an interactive and collaborative learning environment. His most significant takeaway, as he explains, is the ability to communicate his research with scholars in diverse fields. In his words, “I’ll never stop using the communication skills that I got here at MIT”.
Inquisitive about how AI automation could be fitting for your company? Explore the possibilities with implementi.ai or read the original article tutaj.
This website uses cookies.