Noah Crafts, an International Affairs and Modern Languages alumnus from the Sam Nunn School of International Affair, received the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) at the virtual 15th Spring Symposium.

Crafts' research uses China as a case to discern the relationship between cross-border infrastructure projects and political influence. Specifically, he tries to answer how and why the Chinese government chooses different lending channels for cross-border infrastructure projects.

Crafts was nominated by Dalton Lin, assistant professor in the Nunn School, for participating in a long-term research project. 

He began completing research under the supervision of Lin during his first year after receiving the International Affairs Chair’s Undergraduate Research Award. The award Is given to highly qualified Nunn School admitted students who decide to attend Georgia Tech.

“Noah has proven to be an independent researcher and a mature and responsible project team member,” said Lin. “His current research helps the world refine its understanding of China’s so-called ‘debt trap.’”

Crafts, who graduated this May, is returning in the Fall to complete his master's degree in International Security and hopes to continue his research with Lin.