Saad Gulzar

Saad Gulzar is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. Previously, he held positions as Assistant Professor at Stanford University and Princeton University. He earned his Ph.D. in Politics from New York University (2017), with master’s degrees from Columbia University and the National University of Singapore, and a bachelor’s from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). His research focuses on political economy, comparative politics, development, environmental governance, and South Asia, particularly Pakistan, India, and Nepal.

Research interests include government performance in managing large-scale bureaucratic organizations, electoral campaigns, environmental conservation, and the impact of political institutions on marginalized communities. Notable works examine how party elites shape volunteer recruitment, the role of bureaucrat incentives in reducing pollution, and the effects of political affirmative action on development outcomes. His work often combines experimental methods with field research in South Asia.

Key awards include the AJPS Best Paper Award, Rajni Kothari Prize, and Paul A. Sabatier Award. Gulzar’s research has been covered in outlets like Nature, Guardian, and Vox, and he collaborates on projects funded by organizations like the International Growth Center and JPAL. His grants and advising focus on improving public sector accountability, electoral reforms, and environmental policy.

Current projects include studies on gendered helping behaviors, norms shaping women’s political participation, and the long-term impacts of Nepal’s decentralization post-Maoist conflict. He co-leads teams analyzing South Asian governance challenges, emphasizing institutional design and policy implementation.