Daria Zhukauskaite is a master's student in the Davis Center's REECA Program. Her research concerns the growing influence of China in Central Asia and Sino-Russian geopolitical competition. Prior to joining the program, Daria graduated from the Anglo-American University in Prague with a degree in international relations and security studies. While in Prague, she wrote her thesis on "Russian Ontological (In)Security: Implications of Imperialism on National Security" and collaborated with FOMOSO (Forum Für Mittelost- und Südosteuropa) on research concerning Baltic security, Eastern European demographics, and dangers of donation fatigue. She worked as a research assistant to Alexei Anisin, focusing on mass shootings in Central and Eastern Europe and Collective Security Treaty Organization actions in Central Asia. Daria is currently assisting in the publication of Stanislav Shushkevich's book in English.