Gopi Bhamidipati

Ph.D. in International Relations with expertise in Middle East geopolitics, India’s foreign policy, and global strategic partnerships. Accomplished educator and researcher, recognized for fostering critical analysis, designing innovative curricula, and producing impactful scholarship on strategic autonomy and non-Western IR frameworks. Published extensively with leading think tanks and media, bridging academic insights with actionable policy recommendations. Proven success in mentoring scholars, conducting rigorous research, and shaping global discourse on emerging geopolitical dynamics. Skilled in translating complex issues into meaningful narratives that inform academia, policy, and public understanding.

• India's Foreign Policy towards the GCC, Israel, and Iran
• Strategic Autonomy and Non-Western IR Theories
• Kautilya's Arthashastra and its Application in Modern Diplomacy
• India's West Asia Policy and Strategic Partnerships
• Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and the Israel-Iran Proxy War
• Alliances, Minilateralism, and Fluid Partnerships
• Middle East Geopolitics and Energy Politics
• Comparative Analysis of Global Conflicts and Governance

• Adjunct Lecturer, Virginia Tech, Arlington, VA, 11/01/24, 01/31/25, Designed and taught 'Multipolarity, Emergence of Non-State Actors, and Fragmented World Order,' a Winter Semester course under the Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Program., Developed curriculum focusing on the Israel-Iran Proxy Conflict and its implications for a multipolar world., Evaluated student performance through research projects, exams, and active participation., Facilitated critical discussions, encouraging student engagement in policy debates.
• Graduate Teaching Assistant, Virginia Tech, Arlington, VA, 01/01/21, 10/31/24, Lead Instructor for the Washington Semester on Global Engagement (Spring 2021–2024): Topics included U.S. foreign policy, global refugee crises, human trafficking, environmental defense, and Middle Eastern geopolitics., Facilitated class discussions, coordinated presentations to U.S. policymakers, and supervised capstone projects., Contributed to book editing and research support for Dr. Joel Peters on global conflicts and Middle East geopolitics.
• Summer Adjunct Instructor, Virginia Tech, Arlington, VA, 06/01/24, 07/31/24, Designed and taught the course 'Strategic Partnerships and Fluid Alliances,' focusing on minilateralism in South Asia and West Asia., Emphasized the formation of I2U2, IMEC, and the Abraham Accords as frameworks for understanding 21st-century alliances.

• India's Foreign Policy Towards GCC, Israel, and Iran: A Kautilyan Theoretical Framework, 02/01/25, Christopher Newport University
• Israel-Iran Rivalry and India's Foreign Policy Implications, 04/01/25, Gulf Studies Symposium
• Journal of Arabian Studies – India’s Economic Policies Towards UAE and Saudi Arabia, Manuscript Review

• Online Webinar: Analyzing Trajectory of India's External Relations, Institute of Regional Studies, Pakistan, 08/22/22
• Roundtable: Petro Diplomacy 2023: The Energy Transition and the Road to COP28, 06/27/23
• Roundtable Impact of Trump Administration on Middle East Geopolitics, Middle East Institute, Washington, D.C., 11/12/24

Fully Funded Scholarship, Virginia Tech SPIA, 01/01/21, 10/31/24

India's Foreign Policy, Middle East Geopolitics, Kautilyan Principles, Archival research, Process tracing, Semi-structured interviews, Causal analysis, Expertise in producing academic articles and policy briefs., Active participation in high-profile think-tank events and academic forums.

No Sponsorship Required, 11/01/24, 10/31/25

https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9626-4714

• English, Advanced
• Hindi, Advanced
• Urdu, Professional
• Telugu, Native

• Modi 3.0: India Confronts New Realities in a Chaotic Middle East, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, 10/01/24
• India's Balancing Act in the Middle East, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, 04/01/24
• How India Became a Global Energy Player, The National Interest, 09/01/22

• Professor Dr. Joel Peters, peters25@vt.edu
• Professor Dr. Ariel Ahram, ahram@vt.edu
• Professor Dr. Giselle Datz, gdatz@vt.edu

• Fully Funded Scholarship

• Lead Instructor for Washington Semester in Global Engagement for 4 consecutive years
• Contributor for The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington D.C since 2022
• Expert Analyst attending conferences and panels on Middle East Geopolitics and India's Foreign Policy