Furqan Khan, First Year CIR Student

Furqan Khan, from Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, chose CIR for its strong research training, tailored courses, and stimulating intellectual environment. He is excited to work with faculty include Professors Paul Staniland and Paul Poast, whose expertise aligns with his interests. Khan also plans take courses like Foundations of Realism with Professor John Mearsheimer.. His research focuses on Great Power Competition and the Domestic Politics of Third-Party States, with research interests in the impact of U.S.-China competition on South Asian geopolitics.

After earning his undergraduate degree in 2022, Furqan worked at a policy think tank in Islamabad and interned at the Carter Center, where he explored U.S.-China collaboration in post-withdrawal Afghanistan. His professional experiences shaped his academic focus and prepared him for the rigorous CIR program.

After CIR, Furqan plans to again work at think tanks for further experience and then pursue a PhD in Political Science with a focus on Comparative Politics. To prospective applicants, he stresses the importance of pre-planning due to the program’s intensive nine-month timeline, advising early preparation to maximize the experience at UChicago.