Piera Celis is a PhD student at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, specializing in international security with a focus on cyber conflict. Originally from Chile, her areas of interest include cybersecurity, the intersection of technology and international relations, and the strategic use of cyber operations by state and non-state actors.
Piera holds a degree in sociology from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and a Master in Public Policy from the Universidad de Chile. She has extensive experience in quantitative methods and data science, which she applies to her research endeavors. Prior to starting her PhD, Piera worked for several years in Chile's public sector, including roles in applied research at the National Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of the Interior, where she contributed to data-driven policy development and evaluation.