Workforce

Top-Tier Research at HBCUs Beyond 2025

Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.
| July 2, 2025

CSET’s Jaret C. Riddick and Brendan Oliss analyze their newly released research published in the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. Their piece examines how the 2025 revision of the Carnegie Classification criteria is impacting HBCUs’ progress toward R1 status.

Fixing the Pentagon’s Broken Innovation Pipeline

The National Interest
| June 25, 2025

CSET’s Lauren A. Kahn and CFR’s Michael C. Horowitz shared their expert analysis in an op-ed published by The National Interest. In their piece, they explore how the U.S. Department of Defense’s outdated budget process is undermining the military’s ability to adopt and scale emerging technologies quickly enough to deter rising global threats.

Kids need to experiment with AI

EdScoop
| June 17, 2025

CSET’s Emelia Probasco shared her expert insights in an op-ed published by EdScoop. In the piece, she reflects on her son’s middle school science fair project, where he tested generative AI chatbots with trivia questions. Probasco argues that hands-on experimentation like this is key to building AI literacy among youth.

Matthias Oschinski and Ruhani Walia shared their insights in an op-ed published by The Hill Times. In their piece, they examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping—not replacing—jobs in Canada, and argue that the country is missing a critical opportunity to prepare its workforce for an AI-enabled future.

CSET’s Cole McFaul was quoted in a segment aired by NPR’s All Things Considered. The segment discusses the U.S. government’s decision to revoke visas for certain Chinese students.

Does the President Want to Fix Harvard or Destroy It?

The Wall Street Journal
| May 27, 2025

A CSET report was highlighted in an article published by The Wall Street Journal. The article discusses Donald Trump’s escalating campaign against Harvard University, including efforts to cancel federal contracts, freeze grant funding, and bar the university from enrolling international students.

Place-Based Innovation and Its National Security Implications

Council on Foreign Relations
| May 1, 2025

CSET's Jaret C. Riddick and Hayes Meredith provided their expert analysis in an op-ed published by the Council on Foreign Relations. In their piece, they discuss the critical role of place-based industrial innovation policy in maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness and national security amid intensifying global strategic competition.

Top-Tier Research Status for HBCUs?

Jaret C. Riddick and Brendan Oliss
| April 2025

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is simplifying its top-tier R1 research criteria this year. Recognizing the strategic importance of historically Black colleges and universities, Congress passed Section 223 of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act to increase defense research capacity by encouraging the most eligible among these institutions to seek the highly coveted R1 status. This in-depth analysis examines the 2025 classification changes, their effect on eligible HBCUs, and strategies for Congress to maintain progress.

In response to the Office of Science and Technology Policy's request for input on an AI Action Plan, CSET provides key recommendations for advancing AI research, ensuring U.S. competitiveness, and maximizing benefits while mitigating risks. Our response highlights policies to strengthen the AI workforce, secure technology from illicit transfers, and foster an open and competitive AI ecosystem.

A CSET report was highlighted in a Business Insider article discussing Russia’s struggles in the global AI race, with its flagship model, GigaChat MAX, trailing behind American and Chinese counterparts. Experts cite a lack of innovation, a weak private sector, and the war in Ukraine as major setbacks.