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From <\/span><\/span>W<\/span><\/span>aseda<\/span> to <\/span><\/span>Y<\/span><\/span>ale<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n In late March, I was honored to be selected as a Fox International Fellow at Yale\u2019s MacMillan Center. Founded in 1989 by Yale <\/span>alumnus<\/span> Joe Fox and his wife, Alison Barbour Fox, the fellowship brings together researchers from Yale\u2019s partner universities to address global challenges through research and dialogue. For me, it offers an opportunity to advance my doctoral research at <\/span>Waseda<\/span> while learning from a new academic community.<\/span><\/p>\n Beginning My Fox Fellowship Journey at Yale<\/p><\/div>\n My <\/span>doctoral <\/span>research on Eurasian natura<\/span>l gas pipelines asks why some transit states can turn their <\/span>advantageous<\/span> geographical positions withi<\/span>n pipeline networks into bargaining power, while others cannot. I began developing this project in my second year at <\/span>Waseda<\/span>, inspired by Russian and German efforts to build Nord Stream pipelines bypassing Ukraine. <\/span>This puzzle brought me to Yale to explore the relationship between energy infrastructure and political power.<\/span><\/p>\n During my first two months at Yale, I have valued the opportunity to discuss my research with scholars from different disciplines. To strengthen my understanding of fieldwork, I am <\/span><\/span>working w<\/span><\/span>ith Professor Douglas Rogers as my mentor.<\/span><\/span> His <\/span>expertise<\/span> in energy anthropology and extensive fieldwork in Russia offer fresh perspectives on my research. Conversations with Professor <\/span>Didac<\/span> Queralt and other scholars across political science, anthropology, and environmental studies have also helped me reconsider my questions and develop <\/span>new approaches<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Alongside these discussions, I am auditing Applied Quantitative Research Design to build a firmer foundation in quantitative methods and develop my analytical skills in R. I complete the same weekly problem sets and final replication project as enrolled students, receiving detailed feedback and guidance during office hours. I am grateful for the time and care the instructor invests in my learning. Although the workload is challenging, I have grown more confident in using quantitative methods and am motivated to pursue further training in causal inference and Python next semester.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Learning also extends beyond classes and individual meetings. <\/span>Workshops in international relations and international political economy introduce me to research in progress, while\u00a0<\/span><\/span>conversations and lunches with visiting scholars offer opportunities to discuss ideas more closely.<\/span> Communication workshops and academic writing courses encourage me to develop skills I had previously overlooked, from explaining research to different audiences to preparing for the academic job market.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Equally memorable are the friendships taking shape along the way. During orientation, our cohort joined the MacMillan fellowships team for a boat tour of the Thimble Islands near Branford, Connecticut. In mid-October, the Fox family warmly welcomed us to <\/span>their Norfolk home for a Thanksgiving luncheon.<\/span><\/span> Making mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival, enjoying outdoor barbecues, a<\/span><\/span>nd playing video games have also brought me together with students and researchers in <\/span><\/span>STEM<\/span> fields.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A Thanksgiving Gathering with the Fox Family<\/p><\/div>\n Learning from people with <\/span>different backgrounds<\/span> has encouraged me to reflect on how my research can contribute beyond my immediate academic community. I<\/span><\/span>n this contex<\/span><\/span>t, I have come to appreciate more deeply <\/span>Waseda\u2019s<\/span> message: \u201cDo not think only of your own interest, your family\u2019s interest, or the interests of your country alone, but be ambitious to contribute to humankind thr<\/span>oughout the world.\u201d<\/span><\/span> Amid interconnected challenges of energy security, geopolitical conflict, and climate change, my research encourages me to consider how national strategies affect people beyond nati<\/span><\/span>onal borders. A pipeline\u2019s construction or rerouting changes not only <\/span>bargaining relationships but also energy supplies, livelihoods, and security. <\/span>Conversations with fellows from different countries make these consequences\u00a0<\/span><\/span>more tangible.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n During the rest of my time at Yale, I hope to draw on new theoretical perspectives and methodological skills to advance my doctoral research.<\/span><\/span> I also look forward to sharing\u00a0<\/span><\/span>what I have learned <\/span><\/span>with teachers and fellow students at GSICCS. I am grateful to <\/span>Waseda<\/span> and <\/span>Fox International Fellowship<\/span><\/span> f<\/span>or an experience that is deepening my research, broadening my understanding of the world, and giving me <\/span>new ideas<\/span> to bring back to the community where this journey began.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fire\/gsiccs\/assets\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Beginning-My-Fox-Fellowship-Journey-at-Yale.png\")
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