Jessica Abowitz

Jessica Abowitz is a Graduate Professional with UNIDIR’s Security and Technology Programme, working on the artificial intelligence workstream. Her areas of expertise and research interests include the intersection of emerging technology and human rights, digital development and conflict prevention.

Jess holds a Master of International and Development Studies with a concentration in Conflict, Peace and Security from the Graduate Institute, Geneva and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wellesley College. Her master’s thesis focused on the ways in which non-state actors could leverage dual-use emerging technologies to challenge State legitimacy.

Before joining UNIDIR, Jess has worked with various parts of the US government including as an intern for the US Department of State on cyber and digital policy initiatives at the international level, as an intern with US Africa Command assisting with conflict and stabilization operations research and analysis, and as an intern with the US Agency for International Development on digital development.

She is fluent in English and has basic knowledge of French and Korean.