Life at CSET

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At CSET, culture isn’t just a buzzword — we live it in how we interact daily. CSET researchers and staff members are challenged with meaningful work, pursue ongoing professional development and learning, and contribute to a collegial and engaging environment where they can thrive. Whether it’s a lively brainstorming session or a casual chat about weekend plans, we believe in respecting every voice while staying intellectually curious. We are fervently committed to each individual’s success and sense of belonging at CSET and equipping them with the skills, network, and opportunity they need to be successful at CSET and beyond.

CSET Culture Statement

Inclusion Alliance

CSET’s Inclusion Alliance is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all CSETers feel valued, respected, and supported. Through professional development, outreach initiatives, and educational opportunities, we strive to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging by fostering purposeful and open dialogue. We believe amplifying and celebrating diverse voices and perspectives makes us more dynamic, forward-thinking, adaptable, and rigorous; allowing us to have the greatest impact on enhancing national security.

​​Established in 2023, the Inclusion Alliance has actively contributed to its mission by publishing a variety of blogs highlighting heritage month celebrations, such as Women’s History Month, inviting informative public speakers to share their perspectives, organizing visits to locations emblematic of heritage months, hosting a researcher-led presentation on themes in Asian American history, engaging in challenging discussions, and fostering an environment conducive to open dialogue and learning. The Inclusion Alliance is also working to analyze and continuously improve CSET’s work, to ensure that our evidence-based, data-driven research is informed by a diverse variety of relevant sources and perspectives, and considers the impact of emerging technology issues on different communities.

As it grows, the Inclusion Alliance looks forward to progressing toward a more equitable, inclusive, and just world.

Professional Development

At CSET, every employee is encouraged to dedicate a portion of their time to professional development. CSET-ers use this time to attend conferences abroad and domestically, present research in academic forums, enroll in educational experiences, or take courses, including completing advanced degrees and earning certifications, using Georgetown University’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

CSET is dedicated to offering specialized professional development opportunities to meet our unique needs. These include immersive “day-in-the-life” sessions where professionals from various careers share their insights through informal presentations and engaging Q&A sessions. We offer foundational sessions like “Policy 101” and “Military 101,” along with interactive writing and data workshops designed to foster comprehensive and meaningful professional growth. To meet our mission of preparing “a new generation of decision-makers to address the challenges and opportunities of emerging technologies,” our development initiatives are tailored to each team member’s unique career journey.

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CSET Reads
CSET Talks
RA Roundtable
Cool Casual Conversations
CSET Public Service Fellowships
Senior Fellow Fireside Chats
CSET Reads

CSET Reads is a weekly gathering to discuss technical research papers. Borne from frustration over a growing backlog of technical research papers, CSET Reads has evolved into a mechanism for researchers to share the work of digesting fast-paced tech developments. Researchers volunteer to read and present papers. Presentations may involve creating slides, leading an informal discussion, or some mixture of the two. Although the majority of papers are technical research publications, CSETers have also discussed technical blog posts, draft laws, government memoranda, and other AI-related works.

CSET Talks

CSET Talks is a semi-regular gathering to discuss a topic of interest. Topics in the past have included compute thresholds, voluntary versus mandatory regulation, and NIST’s guidance on AI. Like CSET Reads, CSET Talks sometimes focuses on a publication that is relevant to CSET’s research agenda. However, topics are not limited to discussing written products and can cover any area that intersects with CSET’s work or emerging policy debates.

Research Analyst Roundtable

Once a month, early-career researchers on our analysis and data teams set aside time to openly discuss their work and professional development plans with each other. These conversations aim to foster a collaborative research environment, build research partnerships across teams, and give analysts the opportunity to discuss life at CSET with their peers in a judgment- free, informal setting. The RA Roundtable allows analysts to support each other, stay updated on each other’s work, and ensure that the voices of its early-career employees are an integral part of CSET’s culture.

Cool Casual Conversations (CCC)

Cool Casual Conversations, or CCC, is a triweekly forum for early-career CSET Research Analysts to discuss ongoing projects. Analysts can sign up for one of two 45- minute time slots in which they present their ongoing research and solicit feedback from colleagues. CCC meetings are intended to be an informal and open setting to allow analysts to receive feedback from their colleagues on research projects. The CCC meetings enable analysts to draw on a wide range of expertise across all CSET Lines of Research to aid in their work.

CSET Public Service Fellowships

The Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Mobility Program enables state and local governments, colleges and universities, tribal governments, federally funded research and development centers, and other eligible organizations to arrange temporary personnel assignments within the Federal Government.

At CSET, we view our organization as a launchpad for future decision-makers to refine their research skills for maximum impact in policy making. Through the IPA program, we offer CSETers a unique opportunity to serve in the fFederal gGovernment, expanding their experience and influence. Once they are close to the end of their tenure at CSET, those interested in these Public Service Fellowships have the opportunity to be considered to work for a year in a U.S. government agency.

Click the link to read more about our Public Service Fellows.

Senior Fellow Fireside Chat Series

Senior Fellow Fireside Chats build on our culture at CSET in an informal, fun, and informative way. Throughout the year, early-career researchers host fireside chats with senior members of the team. Anyone at CSET can join these conversations and ask the senior fellow questions. These informal, get-to-know-you conversations focus on advice for early-career professionals and shed light on how senior researchers navigate their careers and develop their research agendas. By pairing up one-on-one with an individual senior analysis team member, early career researchers have opportunities to build relationships outside of traditional management structures and strengthen those relationships long after the chat is over.

Igor's Fireside Chat

CSET Team-Driven Initiatives

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Coffee and Coworking
CSET Board Game Nights
CSET Run Club
CSET Book Club
Coffee and Coworking

Since the summer of 2023, CSET has periodically hosted open coworking sessions, each accompanied by a “make your own coffee” station encouraging us to simultaneously work together and caffeinate. These events are usually held during Loud Weeks, to allow CSET-ers to socialize, build new bonds, brainstorm new ideas, and facilitate cross-team collaboration. Some great, unique project ideas have sprung from these conversations. Since these events have been a big success, Coffee and Coworking will soon extend outside Loud Weeks and become a more regular event! 

Coffee and Coworking
CSET Board Game Nights

CSET-ers share a variety of hobbies and personal interests, and board games are amongst the most popular! As such, CSET Board Game Nights are a fun tradition that we’ve established. CSET-ers bring board games from home to spend a fun evening rolling dice, planning strategies, and getting to know each other better. These evenings are also usually accompanied by pizza and snacks, so even those who aren’t feeling up to a board game can stop by for some great conversation and good eats. The games we bring vary in their collaborativeness/competitiveness and in complexity level, so anyone who’s interested is always welcome to get involved!

Board Game Nights
CSET Run Club

CSET Run Club consists of a group of CSETers who enjoy running outside together. Runners hail from different teams at CSET, providing an opportunity for CSETers who might not normally interact during work to socialize and exercise outside of work hours. Runs typically take place in the early morning or late afternoon. Runners often start from the office and traverse the Capitol and National Mall, but routes are not set in stone. Runners are free to suggest alternate routes and organize meet- ups via Slack. Depending on the time of year, CSETers will organize a run on a monthly basis or every couple of weeks. Anyone is welcome to join the club regardless of ability or familiarity with running.

CSET Board Game Nights

CSET-ers share a variety of hobbies and personal interests, and board games are amongst the most popular! As such, CSET Board Game Nights are a fun tradition that we’ve established. CSET-ers bring board games from home to spend a fun evening rolling dice, planning strategies, and getting to know each other better. These evenings are also usually accompanied by pizza and snacks, so even those who aren’t feeling up to a board game can stop by for some great conversation and good eats. The games we bring vary in their collaborativeness/competitiveness and in complexity level, so anyone who’s interested is always welcome to get involved!

CSET Book Club

CSET Book Club typically meets on a monthly basis to discuss a work of literature, which can be a book, short story, or other piece of writing that CSETers are interested in. Anyone in Book Club can suggest a work of literature to read. While there is no set criteria for selecting literature, members generally aim to select works from a variety of genres and authors. Book Club meetings occur during lunchtime so that CSETers can discuss a book over lunch with their colleagues. CSETers who have not read the book of the month are also welcome to join the discussion. The conversations are free-flowing and provide an opportunity to share thoughts on written works that fall outside of the reading that CSETers do on a daily basis.

Analyst Spotlights

At CSET, our Research Analysts and Data Research Analysts play a vital role in shaping our research initiatives. Often serving as first authors on reports, they gain visibility and establish themselves as experts in their fields. We’re thrilled to showcase their stories in these spotlights, where they share what they love most about working at CSET and offer a unique glimpse into their day-to-day experiences.