Gary K. Bertsch Director, Center for International Trade and SecurityProfessor of International Affairs

Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Conrad is the Gary K. Bertsch Director of the Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) and Professor of International Affairs. He is an international security expert with a focus on nuclear security, energy security, interstate conflict, and terrorism. Dr. Conrad is jointly appointed to the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL).

Dr. Conrad’s work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Stanton Foundation, and his research has been published in leading academic journals, including International Organization, the Journal of Politics and the British Journal of Political Science.

He is the author of two books, Gambling and War: Risk, Reward, and Chance in International Conflict and Militant Competition: How Terrorists and Insurgents Advertise with Violence and How They Can Be Stopped. Dr. Conrad has appeared in, and his research has been cited in, a variety of international media outlets, including the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, National Interest, Diplomat, Slate France, Navy Times, and Voice of America. Dr. Conrad is also a key researcher at the Resources and Conflict Project, a partnership of researchers across various universities who evaluate environmental and natural resource determinants of violent conflict.

In addition to his research activities, Dr. Conrad develops and implements training programs for government officials and corporate audiences on topics such as counterproliferation, border security, and strategic trade management.  He is a former U.S. Navy officer and has worked in the international private sector.

Education
  • Ph.D, Florida State University
  • MA, University of California-Los Angeles
Areas of Expertise
  • International security
  • Nuclear security
  • Energy security
  • International conflict
  • Terrorism
Honors, Awards, and Achievements
  • SPIA Excellence in Research Award (2022)
  • Best Paper in International Relations Award, Midwest Political Science Association (2018)
Selected Publications

Conrad, Justin. 2023. “Natural Resource Exploitation and Military Spending.” International Studies Quarterly 67(3).

Conrad, Justin, Kevin T. Greene, and Brian J. Phillips. 2023. “Introducing ViNSAR: Dyadic Data on Violent Non-state Actor Rivalry.” Journal of Conflict Resolution: 00220027231208708.

Walsh, James Igoe, Justin Conrad and Beth Elise Whitaker. 2023. “Rebel Human Rights Abuses During Civil Wars: Introducing the Rebel Human Rights Dataset.” Journal of Peace Research: 00223433221147940.

Conrad, Justin, Liana Eustacia Reyes, and Megan Stewart. 2022. “Revisiting Opportunism in Civil Conflict: Natural Resource Extraction and Healthcare Provision.” Journal of Conflict Resolution 66(1): 91-114.

Conrad, Justin and William Spaniel. 2021. Militant Competition: How Terrorists and Insurgents Advertise with Violence and How They Can Be Stopped (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).