Ruslana Kochmar is a 2023 MSFS STIA graduate student at Georgetown University. She is originally from Ukraine, Odesa. Prior to Georgetown, Ruslana completed a BA degree in International Relations in Spain. The final topic of her thesis on Ukraine’s green energy opportunities incentivized her to augment her academic knowledge in the intersection between regulatory, technical, and security aspects of the energy sector.

Ruslana’s current pursuit of a master’s degree at Georgetown enhanced her proficiency in the development policies and energy finance sector. This summer Ruslana was interning for Savanah River National Laboratory under the Global Security Directorate, where she conducted independent research on hydrogen and nuclear cogeneration capabilities to outline policy recommendations for the DOE in enhancing clean energy dominance. The analysis categorized political, economic, and technological aspects, which were evaluated based on existing policies and resource endowments. The goal of this project was to assess the market outlook, including prospects and barriers to scaling up clean hydrogen production.

Currently, Ruslana is working in the consulting firm Longnecker & Associates which assists the DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstration (OCED). Ruslana is contributing to the rigorous discussion on recommendations of evaluation and selection criteria and drafting regulatory/ technical procedures for large-scale clean energy projects. Having stated her strong devotion to market analysis and clean energy, she is looking to develop her career in consulting and energy diplomacy.

"I chose MSFS because of the vibrant international and inclusive networking environment. I found the concentration of knowledge and unique experiences that have provided me with great insight. It was both a curse and a blessing to be born in the 21st century, which demands more than ever a comprehensive understanding of society, people, globalization, and multinational markets. This skill set is in high demand among leading employers in both the private and public sectors. By developing transferable skills at the MSFS program, I steadily mature to make my small contribution to addressing national and international foreign policy issues. I have never felt so assured that students and faculty members are true progress inducers. I realized how and what meaningful impacts diplomacy can make both inside and outside of campus in combating urgent crises."

Publications

Decoding Ukraine’s Security Environment: Fears and Trends for Modern Diplomacy platform, Centre for Nationalism Studies, March 2021 (Co-authored).  Read it here. 

Participated in the Sustainable Energy trade/exhibit show of Central and Eastern Europe in Kyiv (CISOLAR 2020).