Location of Birth: 

Hyderabad, India

I grew up in a musical family; my mother a Carnatic vocalist, and my father a Carnatic violinist. I started piano lessons at 6, and violin lessons at 9. I took private lessons for both until the completion of high school, with violin becoming my primary instrument. I participated in chamber music camps, local youth orchestras, and my school orchestra.  Kaushik currently performs weekly with the Capital City Symphony, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

Many of my friends quit their respective instruments upon graduation of high school. However, I continued playing violin, practicing through college/graduate school, as well as performing at varying gigs. During this time, I also taught myself bass guitar, guitar, and mandolin. 

EDUCATION

George Mason University – Fairfax, Virginia May 2010

M.A. in Political Science

Temple University – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May 2008

B.A. in Political Science; Philosophy minor

MUSIC EXPERIENCE

Primary Instrument: Violin (16 years)

Other Instruments: Piano (19 years), Bass Guitar (8 years), Guitar (4 years), Mandolin (2 years)

Performance Experience

 North Allegheny School District Golden Strolling Strings (1st Violin): 1996 – 2004

 North Allegheny School District Musicals (1st Violin, Orchestra): 2000 – 2004. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Les Misérables, The Music Man.

 Phoenix Youth Orchestra (2nd Violin): 2000 – 2001

 Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra (2nd Violin): 2001 – 2004

 Musik Innovations Chamber Music String Camp: 1998 – 2004 (Summers)

 Freelance Musician (Weddings, Banquets, Graduations, etc.): 2005 – Present

Teaching Experience

 Musik Innovations Chamber Music String Camp (Camp Counselor): 2005 – 2007 (Summers)

 Violin Instructor: 2010 – Present

 PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

PublicSquare.net October 2011 – Present

Research Assistant – Economic and Public Policy Washington, DC

 Conduct research and literature searches on public policy issues that have the potential to be debated on PublicSquare.net.

 Engage with scholars/experts in order to ensure thoughtful discussion and further intellectual public discourse.

Self-Employed February 2011 – Present

Independent Researcher/Writer Washington, DC

 Work with clients in researching and writing papers, articles, and policy documents.

 Topics include, and are not limited to: market research, marketing, company policy/compliance, and public policy.

 Clients are businesses in the services industry.

The Mercatus Center at George Mason University June 2010 – January 2011 Program Associate for Graduate Student Programs Arlington, VA

 Reviewed economics/public policy papers for publication on the Graduate Student Programs website.

 Participated in developing strategies for expanding and enhancing the Mercatus Center’s MA Fellowship Program.

 Connected MA students to employers through career development workshops, leading to jobs and internships.

 Participated in the Center’s analysis of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through survey and field research.