Tristan is a Ph.D. student in political science concentrating in public policy, research methods, and international relations. He holds bachelors’ degrees in political science and religious studies and a master’s degree in environmental policy from Appalachian State University.
His research interests are related to topics on the confluence of energy, climate, and national security policy, geopolitical risk, and great power competition. Tristan analyzes these from an applied policy approach that aims to inform policymakers of emerging security threats and provide innovative solutions to manage them.
He is currently researching how great power competition over natural resources and the energy transition are shaping relations in the global South. This work assesses the impact of increased demand for critical minerals on the decisions producers make in foreign affairs. He is also working on projects that research public attitudes and risk perceptions towards trends in national security.
