Grace Schmerz

Threat Intelligence | Trust & Safety | OSINT | Online Harms | Behavioral Risk Analysis | Emerging Technology Risks

New York, New York, United States

About

My interest lies in understanding how people interact with technology, information, and one another, and how those interactions can create opportunities for harm, influence, or exploitation. With a background in Forensic Psychology and Global Security, Conflict & Cybercrime, I am particularly interested in the intersection of threat intelligence, trust & safety, online harms, behavioral risk analysis, and emerging technologies. My experience includes OSINT research, threat analysis, intelligence production, and research focused on topics such as extremism, online behavior, and technology-enabled risks. I am especially interested in roles that involve investigating complex problems, identifying emerging threats, and translating research into practical insights that support safety, security, and risk-informed decision making.

Experience

  • Initiative for the Study of Emerging Threats (ISET) Graduate Research Assistant at New York University
    Sep 2025 - Present · 10 mos

    - Support faculty-led research on emerging security threats, including literature searches and synthesis for policy-relevant projects - Assist with communications and public engagement by preparing and sharing content to promote publications and initiatives - Assist with planning and project management for interdisciplinary security initiatives - Collaborate closely with faculty to translate academic research into accessible, practitioner-facing materials

  • Graduate Practicum at Manhattan District Attorney's Office
    Sep 2025 - Dec 2025 · 4 mos

    - Providing research for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office Counterterrorism Unit on projects addressing real-world security priorities - Producing practitioner-focused deliverables (i.e., reports, factsheets, presentations) for partners such as DHS, FBI, and JTTF -Conducting OSINT research and threat analysis on terrorism and counterterrorism, integrating academic, policy, and primary research - Collaborating with subject matter experts to ensure the accuracy and practical relevance of counterterrorism policy and intelligence research

  • Research Assistant - Terrorism Lab at John Jay College (CUNY)
    Feb 2024 - Sep 2024 · 8 mos

  • Intern at Saul- Eisenberg Seniorenheim der AWO
    Feb 2021 - Jun 2021 · 5 mos