Honor Society® member
Ryan J. Bain
- Technology and Public Policy
- Class of 2028
- Santa Monica, CA
Member since March 2026
About
Policy Analysis: Technology Applications and Implications Ph.D. candidate at the RAND School of Public Policy. Simultaneously employed as an Assistant Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation. Adept policy generalist with strong quantitative skill sets.
Education
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RAND School of Public Policy
Ph.D in Policy Analysis: Technology Applications and Implications
2023 – Present
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RAND School of Public Policy
M.Phil in Policy Analysis
2023 – 2025
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College of Europe
M.A. in European Political and Governance Studies and Public Policy Analysis
2019 – 2020
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The University of Edinburgh
M.S. in Policy Studies
2018 – 2019
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The University of Glasgow
M.S. in International Relations
2015 – 2016
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The University of Edinburgh
M.A. (Hons) in politics and economic and social history
2011 – 2015
Honors and awards
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RAND Graduate School Fellowship
Doctoral fellowship supporting PhD study at the RAND School of Public Policy
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First Tech Federal Credit Union STEM Scholarship
Awarded in recognition of academic excellence, financial need, and demonstrated societal value of STEM-driven PhD policy research
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Public Sector Innovation Award winner, European Centre for Government Transformation
Competitive award for the design of an innovative digital platform ecosystem addressing structural challenges within the Finnish labour market
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Scottish Government Excellence Scholarship recipient, College of Europe
Merit award granted to fully support postgraduate study, selected on the basis of academic distinction and potential for public service
Goals and interests
- Career goal
Applied policy research at the intersection of emerging technology and national security within government, the private sector, or a major research institution.
- Graduate school interests
Doctoral research sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, energy systems, and public policy. Broader graduate-school interests are in developing the methodological tools – quantitative modelling, systems analysis, structured scenario planning – that allow policy analysts to engage seriously with rapidly evolving, technically complex domains. Some key research interests include: climate, energy, and decarbonisation; defence and space policy; emerging technologies and artificial intelligence; the Russia-Ukraine war; and international strategic competition between the US and China.
Experience
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Teaching Assistant
RAND School of Public Policy, Santa Monica (CA)
Sep 2024 – Jan 2026
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Assistant Policy Researcher
RAND Corporation, Santa Monica (CA, U.S.)
Sep 2023 – Present
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Policy Analyst, Industrial Decarbonisation and Trade (Clean Economy Programme)
E3G (Brussels, Belgium)
Sep 2022 – Jul 2023
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Policy and Programme Support, Data Futures Project
UNDP (NY, U.S.)
Feb 2022 – Aug 2022
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Policy Assistant, Climate, Energy and Environment
Norsk Hydro (Brussels, Belgium)
Jan 2021 – Feb 2022
Volunteering
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Family Reunion and Integration Volunteer Officer, Refugee Services
British Red Cross
Nov 2016 – May 2018
Languages
- English (UK) Advanced
- French (France) Intermediate
