Shawn Treier

Dr. Shawn Treier is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Politics & International Relations, The Australian National University. Previously, he held academic positions at the University of Georgia, University of Minnesota, and University of Virginia. His research focuses on Bayesian models applied to American political institutions, behavior, and development, as well as the measurement of democracy. He co-authored the 2020 book Founding Factions: How Majorities Shifted and Aligned to Shape the U.S. Constitution, and has published in journals like the American Journal of Political Science and Political Analysis. His work bridges quantitative methodology with historical and institutional analysis of U.S. political systems.

Education: PhD in Political Science (Stanford University), MA in Economics (Stanford University), BA in Politics and Government, Economics, and German Studies (Ohio Wesleyan University).

Research interests include Bayesian modeling techniques, constitutional history, political behavior, and institutional development. He has explored topics such as voting patterns at the Federal Convention of 1787, judicial opinion writing dynamics, and the measurement of ideological shifts in political institutions. His recent work emphasizes the application of advanced statistical methods to historical and contemporary political questions.

Dr. Treier is registered to supervise research students and has contributed to interdisciplinary collaborations, including postdoctoral fellowships at the United States Studies Centre in Sydney. His research highlights the interplay between quantitative methods and substantive political questions, particularly in understanding foundational moments in U.S. political development.