Tara C
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley)
Expertise
AI/tech policy, international security (including arms control/nonproliferation), democracy and authoritarianism, human rights, political violence, U.S. foreign policy, international relations, gender, U.S. government. I am pretty open to working with students to make their project work for them,
Bio
Dr. Tara Chandra is an independent researcher and consultant with expertise in tech policy, AI, and geopolitics. In 2024-2025, she served as Polygence's Scholar-in-Residence, where she spent the year thinking and writing about how AI is changing education. Tara received her PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley in 2023. She completed her Master's degree in Global Affairs at Yale University, and her undergraduate degree at the University of Chicago. Prior to graduate school, she worked in national security and foreign policy in Washington, DC. Tara is passionate about helping solid research get out into the world, and is excited about working with students to help them explore their own research interests. In her free time, Tara loves reading about U.S. foreign policy, history, and gender, and has lately been revisiting political philosophy texts from college. She's also a self-trained calligrapher and cardmaker, and in the past year, has begun taking adult ballet classes, and is discovering a new love of all things ballet!Project ideas
Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.
The Hidden Cost of AI: Understanding the Human Rights Implications of AI
This project focuses on the intersection of human rights and artificial intelligence. It explores the potential costs of investing full throttle in AI, and discusses some potential policy solutions depending on the Student's interest and specific areas they want to explore! Students could leave with a review paper, an op-ed, or a policy recommendation.
Teaching experience
I have taught at both Yale and Berkeley, and have experience teaching in a range of courses, from intro level (e.g. introduction to international relations) all the way to upper division/advanced undergraduate courses. I really like to incorporate practical information in my classes, especially for students interested in working in national security or foreign policy, so I often use my own policy background to inform my classes and even integrate things like policy simulations or exercises into my class.Credentials
Education
University of Chicago
BA Bachelor of Arts (2011)
Political ScienceYale University
MA Master of Arts (2016)
Global AffairsUniversity of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley)
MA Master of Arts (2019)
Political ScienceUniversity of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley)
PhD Doctor of Philosophy (2023)
Political Science with a Designated Emphasis in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies