Polling Methods Professors and Supervisors

Vicente Coll SerranoView profile

Professor

University of ValenciaSpain

Vicente Coll Serrano is a Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at Universitat de València, affiliated with the Faculty of Economics. His research focuses on quantitative methods for measuring cultural and educational outcomes, efficiency analysis in public and private sectors, and the application of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) techniques. He leads the MC2 research group (Quantitative methods for measuring culture and education) and has contributed extensively to DEA software development and methodology. He holds a PhD from Universitat de València (2003) titled Eficiencia y productividad de la industria textil europea desde la perspectiva del análisis envolvente de datos , supervised by Dr. José Miguel Bachero Nebot and Dr. Jesús Esteban García. Research interests include: DEA applications in cultural economics, efficiency measurement in public institutions, stochastic modeling, and educational policy evaluation. His work bridges quantitative methodologies with real-world policy problems in cultural sectors, museums, and municipal governance. Key trends in his publications focus on advancing DEA techniques (software tools like deaR , fuzzy DEA, stochastic models), analyzing innovation in cultural organizations, and evaluating the economic impact of cultural policies. He has also explored teaching methodologies' effects on graduate competencies. Advising: No specific advisees listed. Grants: No explicit funding details provided. Labs/Teams: MC2 group focuses on cultural metrics and quantitative evaluation frameworks.

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Henrik Ekengren OscarssonView profile

Professor

University of GothenburgSweden

Henrik Ekengren Oscarsson is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg’s Department of Political Science. He leads the Swedish Election Research Programme, a long-standing initiative since the 1950s focused on electoral research, public opinion, and democracy. His roles include directing the programme and chairing Statistics Sweden’s democracy statistics user council. He is also involved with the Swedish Democracy Foundation, promoting democratic rule of law education and research. His research interests span electoral behavior, party systems, political psychology, and media influence on politics. Notably, he explores voter decision-making processes, internet-based surveys, and historical surveillance practices by Swedish authorities during the Cold War. Teaching focuses on political methodology, voter behavior, and comparative politics. Recent publications analyze 2022 Swedish election dynamics, electoral integrity concerns, and climate skepticism. His work often addresses contemporary challenges in democratic governance, such as trust in electoral systems and media roles in combating corruption. Key academic contributions include leadership of the Swedish Election Research Programme, co-authorship of major electoral studies, and advisory roles in national democracy initiatives. His research bridges empirical analysis with practical implications for democratic institutions and policy.

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Mikael GilljamView profile

Professor

University of GothenburgSweden

Mikael Gilljam is a Professor at the Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg. His research focuses on democracy issues, political opinions, election research, and research methods. He leads an ongoing project titled 'Realization of the will of the people,' analyzing the disconnect between public opinion and policy in Sweden over 60 years, funded by Forte. His work explores procedural fairness, electoral systems, intergroup contact effects, and the impact of diversity on social trust. Gilljam has contributed to over 30 academic publications since 2012, examining topics such as polling accuracy, democratic responsiveness, and the effects of transparency on legitimacy. He collaborates with institutions like the Quality of Government Institute and has presented at international conferences including the American Political Science Association meetings.

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Jonathan Art ChuView profile

Assistant Professor

National University of SingaporeSingapore

Jonathan Art Chu serves as Presidential Young Professor (Assistant Professor) at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, where he examines how humanitarian institutions, liberal democratic norms, and public opinion shape international behavior in conflict zones. His research bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis to address pressing questions in global security and governance. Education: B.A. in Political Science, UC San Diego Ph.D. in Political Science, Stanford University Postdoctoral Fellow, Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania Chu's scholarship centers on Comparative Politics, Democracy, and International Relations with specialized focus on norm diffusion, public opinion formation, and wartime conduct. He employs rigorous experimental methodologies—including survey experiments and observational studies—to investigate how moral judgments influence perceptions of humanitarian intervention, how international organizations legitimize military coalitions, and how liberal ideology shapes foreign views of China. His work consistently demonstrates how identity and institutional cues mediate citizen responses to international crises, revealing nuanced pathways for policy influence. Analysis of his publication record shows a cohesive trajectory examining legitimacy mechanisms in international affairs. Early work established foundations in norm compliance (e.g., POW treatment studies), while recent publications pivot toward institutional validation processes—particularly how bodies like NATO harness public opinion to justify military action. Methodologically, he integrates survey experiments with cross-national data to uncover causal relationships between normative appeals and policy support, with increasing emphasis on great power dynamics and humanitarian crises. Scientific Awards: Finkelstein Paper Prize for outstanding contribution to International Organization studies Weber Paper Prize for innovative research in Religion and Politics Leonard Davis Genocide Prevention Fellowship at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (2025-26) Chu's academic leadership includes chairing the Master in International Affairs program at LKYSPP and serving on editorial boards for Journal of Politics , International Studies Quarterly , and Journal of Experimental Political Science . His research receives support from the U.S. National Science Foundation, while his civic engagement manifests through founding CivicPulse—a non-profit advancing evidence-based policy—and managing Stanford's Survey Lab. Current projects focus on genocide prevention mechanisms and the psychological foundations of humanitarian intervention. His laboratory infrastructure combines academic rigor with practical application: as founding Director of Research for CivicPulse, he develops tools for measuring civic health, while his Stanford Survey Lab experience informs methodological innovations in cross-national polling. The 2025 book Social Cues: How the Liberal Community Legitimizes Humanitarian Wars (Cambridge University Press) synthesizes this work into a unified theory of institutional legitimation.

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Mirjam GlessmerView profile

Senior Lecturer

Lund UniversitySweden

Mirjam Glessmer is a Senior Lecturer and Educational Developer at Lund University's Centre for Engineering Education (LTH). Her work focuses on improving teaching practices through research on student-teacher relationships and sustainability education. Senior Lecturer at Centre for Engineering Education, Lund University Research: Educational Development, Generative AI in Education, and Sustainability Pedagogy Projects: iEarth (2020-2025), CoCreatingGFI (2022-2025), and Teaching for Sustainability (2023-2026) Recent Publications (sorted 2024-2025) address sustainability megagames, GenAI ethics, test anxiety reduction in STEM, and positionality in European engineering education. Key Collaborators: R. Forsyth, C. Bovill, K. Daae Active in organizing webinars and workshops on AI and sustainability education

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Marius PrecupeţuView profile

Associate Professor

National School of Political Studies and Public AdministrationRomania

Marius Precupeţu serves as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, National School of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) in Bucharest, Romania. His academic responsibilities include teaching undergraduate courses in Social and Political Research Methods, alongside master's level instruction in European Public Opinion and Research Methods. His research portfolio centers on methodological frameworks in political science, with concentrated expertise in democratic theory and transition processes. Dr. Precupeţu's work systematically examines public sentiment dynamics through survey methodology and opinion polling, establishing critical connections between empirical data collection and political behavior analysis in post-communist European contexts. This dual focus on quantitative methodology and democratization processes forms the cornerstone of his academic contributions. Professional engagement includes active participation in SNSPA's academic ecosystem through curriculum development and student mentorship in political science methodologies. His institutional email contact remains marius.precupetu@snspa.ro for scholarly correspondence.

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Samuel S.-H. WangView profile

Professor

Princeton UniversityUnited States

Samuel S.-H. Wang is a Professor of Neuroscience at Princeton University and director of the Princeton Gerrymandering Project (gerrymander.princeton.edu). His interdisciplinary research spans neuroscience and political science, with a focus on statistical analysis of elections and brain function in adulthood and development. Education: Not explicitly stated in the text Research interests include: Statistical methods for election poll analysis Neuroscience of learning and experience-driven brain development Computational approaches to redistricting reform Public science communication through popular books Labs: Leads the Princeton Gerrymandering Project and maintains a neuroscience research group (wanglab.scholar.princeton.edu).

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Nicholas BarkerView profile

Research Fellow

University of BirminghamUnited Kingdom

Dr Nicholas Barker is a Research Fellow at the Department of Political Science and International Studies , University of Birmingham. His work focuses on the causes, character, and consequences of armed conflict, particularly in post-war environments and secessionist conflicts in the Caucasus and Balkans. DPhil in International Relations , University of Oxford (2020) MPhil in Political Science , Central European University (2013) MSc in Global Politics , Birkbeck, University of London (2010) BA in Philosophy , University of Bristol (2008) His research explores state and secessionist strategies in post-separatist wars , grounded in fieldwork in Georgia, Abkhazia, Serbia, Kosovo, and archival work at the United Nations. He co-organizes the Workshop on Conflict Dynamics for early-career researchers and contributes to the ECPR Research Network on Statehood, Sovereignty, and Conflict . Nicholas also investigates qualitative research methods and ethics in conflict-affected areas. He currently holds an ESRC-funded postdoctoral research fellowship for his project 'Who rules where over whom when the fighting stops?' , extending his doctoral work on war-to-peace transitions. Nicholas has previously held affiliations with institutions including the Peace Research Institute Oslo , Caucasus Research Resource Centre , Yale University, and the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict . Outside academia, he has worked in political polling, English teaching, and peacebuilding NGOs.

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Jeffrey BernsteinView profile

Professor

Eastern Michigan UniversityUnited States

Jeffrey Bernstein is a Professor of Political Science at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), where he has served since 1997. Holding a B.A. from Washington University and M.A./Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, his expertise spans American politics , public opinion , citizenship education , and the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) . A 2005-06 Carnegie Scholar, Bernstein co-edited Citizenship Across the Curriculum and authored numerous peer-reviewed publications. Education: B.A., Washington University M.A./Ph.D., University of Michigan Bernstein’s research emphasizes pedagogical innovation to bridge expert-novice divides, foster civic competence, and reduce student anxiety in research methods courses. He advocates collaborative learning, hevruta (dialogic) pedagogy, and inquiry-based projects. His work often involves interdisciplinary approaches to address civic deserts and enhance democratic engagement. Recent publications highlight his focus on student-faculty partnerships , integrative learning, and the impact of simulations on civic competence. Bernstein has contributed to debates on political polling , legislative behavior , and the gender gap in Senate elections . Scientific Awards: Carnegie Scholar, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (2005-06) Bernstein’s collaborative work with students underscores his commitment to mentorship and the scholarship of teaching and learning . He has participated in faculty development initiatives and institutional culture change to promote pedagogical excellence.

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Jeffrey L. BernsteinView profile

Professor

Eastern Michigan UniversityUnited States

Jeffrey L. Bernstein is a full-time Professor of Political Science and Director of the Bruce K. Nelson Faculty Development Center at Eastern Michigan University, where he has served since 1997. His career spans research in American Politics, Campaigns and Elections, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), with a focus on collaborative teaching and civic engagement. B.A., Washington University (1991) M.A., University of Michigan (1994) Ph.D., University of Michigan (1997) Bernstein's research explores innovative pedagogical frameworks like hevruta (collaborative learning), integrative teaching methods, and student-led research initiatives. He emphasizes fostering civic competence through simulations, collaborative structures, and inquiry-based projects. His recent publications highlight trends in SoTL, interdisciplinary civic education, and faculty-student partnerships. Bernstein has received prestigious honors including the Ronald Collins Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching (2020) and the Carnegie Scholar Fellowship (2005-06). He has authored/co-edited books such as Vital Statistics on American Politics and Citizenship Across the Curriculum .

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Sheldon H. JacobsonView profile

Professor

University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States

Sheldon H. Jacobson is a Founder Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, holding appointments in Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, and the College of Medicine. He serves as Director of the Simulation and Optimization Laboratory and Founding Director of both the Bed Time Research Institute and the Institute for Computational Redistricting. Dr. Jacobson earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Mathematics from McGill University and his Ph.D. in Operations Research from Cornell University. Prior to joining the University of Illinois in 1999, he served on the faculties at Case Western Reserve University (Weatherhead School of Management, 1988-1993) and Virginia Tech (Industrial and Systems Engineering, 1993-1999). His research focuses on applying operations research and optimization-based artificial intelligence to address societal problems of national interest. Key areas include aviation security analytics, computational redistricting, public health data analytics, sports analytics (particularly NCAA bracketology), and decision-making under uncertainty. His work has pioneered the field of aviation security analytics, with research on multi-level passenger screening forming the foundation for TSA PreCheck. He has also made significant contributions to pediatric vaccine formulary design, the relationship between transportation and obesity, and computational approaches to combat gerrymandering. Dr. Jacobson's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on applying analytical methods to real-world problems. His recent publications reflect expertise in aviation security, immigration policy, election analytics, and risk-based decision making. The articles show his ability to translate complex analytical concepts into accessible policy discussions for broader audiences. Guggenheim Fellowship (2003) INFORMS Impact Prize (2018) INFORMS President's Award (2023) IISE David F. Baker Distinguished Research Award (2017) Election as Fellow of AAAS (2020), INFORMS (2013), and IISE (2011) As an educator, Dr. Jacobson has directed 27 Ph.D. dissertations and secured over $5 million in research funding from the National Science Foundation and Air Force Office of Scientific Research. He has taught courses including Advanced Stochastic Processes and Simulation. Through his leadership of the Bed Time Research Institute, he has launched several public-facing websites including BracketOdds, ElectionAnalytics, DrivingObesity, and Redistricting, designed to communicate research value and promote STEM literacy. His policy-relevant research has informed government decision-making at the highest levels.

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Barbara CatlinView profile

Lecturer

Pomona CollegeUnited States

Barbara Catlin is a Lecturer in Music at Pomona College, where she directs the Jazz Ensemble. She also oversees the jazz program at the California Institute of Technology and serves on the jazz faculty at Pasadena City College. With a career spanning decades, Catlin has established herself as a leading jazz educator in the Southwest, blending professional performance experience with practical teaching methods. Education : Master of Music Education (Jazz Piano) from Arizona State University; B.S. in Music Education (Saxophone) from Grand Canyon University. Her expertise includes jazz performance, rhythm section coaching, and music education. She has directed prestigious honor ensembles such as the California All-State Junior High Jazz Band and mentored students featured in Grammy jazz bands and Wynton Marsalis’ All-American Jazz Ensemble. Catlin’s awards highlight her contributions to jazz and music education, including recognition from Downbeat Magazine and KJZZ’s Listener’s Poll. As a performer, her trio has gained local and national acclaim, and she has collaborated with top entertainers like Smokey Robinson and Michael Crawford.

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Marlène GerberView profile

Researcher

University of BernSwitzerland

Dr. Marlène Gerber serves as Deputy Director of the Année Politique Suisse (Swiss Political Yearbook) at the Institute of Political Science, University of Bern. She holds a Doctorate in Social Sciences (Dr.rer.soc.) from the University of Bern, where she completed her PhD thesis in 2013 on deliberation potential among EU citizens, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Her academic journey began with studies in political science, geography, and international humanitarian law at the University of Bern (2004-2010), including an exchange semester at the University of Helsinki. Her research expertise centers on deliberation, direct democracy, digital democratic innovations, and women's and gender equality issues. She has contributed extensively to Swiss political discourse through her editorial work with the Année Politique Suisse, where she has authored sections on social groups (asylum, migration, families, gender equality), spatial planning, media, environment, and culture since 2009. Dr. Gerber's scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on gender dynamics in political participation, as evidenced by her analysis of women's presence in parliamentary debates and citizen assemblies. Her recent research explores digital democratic innovations and their potential to enhance citizen engagement in the political process. She has led significant research projects including 'Digital Democratic Innovations to Empower Citizens in the Digital Age' (2020-2024) and 'Echo- vs. Deliberative Chambers' (2018-2020), both funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Notable Publications Trend: Her work consistently bridges theoretical political science with practical democratic innovations, particularly examining how gender dynamics shape political participation and how digital tools can enhance democratic processes while addressing inclusion challenges. Dr. Gerber has actively contributed to public discourse through DeFacto, FemInfo, and other platforms, translating academic insights into accessible political analysis for broader audiences. Her teaching portfolio at the University of Bern demonstrates her commitment to training the next generation of political scientists in research methodology and empirical analysis.

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Jordan RagusaView profile

Professor

College of CharlestonUnited States

Jordan Ragusa is a Professor of Political Science at the College of Charleston with expertise in American and South Carolina politics, congressional behavior, elections, political parties, and statistical methods. His research bridges academic scholarship and public engagement through redistricting litigation work, media commentary, and collaborative student research projects. Ragusa's educational background includes: Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Florida M.A. in Political Science, University of Florida B.S. in Secondary Education, Bowling Green State University His research program focuses on congressional repeals, South Carolina's role in presidential politics, and the dynamics of party behavior. In his book Congress in Reverse , Ragusa examines when and why Congress repeals legislation, demonstrating that repeals face unique constraints and are often driven by partisan motives rather than policy problems. His work on South Carolina politics, particularly in First in the South , argues for the state's underappreciated but pivotal role in presidential nomination contests due to its demographically clarifying electorate. Ragusa's publication record shows a consistent focus on American political institutions with increasing methodological sophistication. His recent work examines ideological polarization in repeal politics, congressional support for Trump, and the nationalization of special elections. His research demonstrates how party dynamics, electoral considerations, and ideological positioning shape legislative behavior across different eras of American politics. As an educator, Ragusa teaches courses on American politics, research methodology, and South Carolina's political landscape. He actively mentors students through the American Politics Research Team, which conducts exit polling and publishes research on contemporary political phenomena. His public scholarship includes expert testimony in redistricting cases, op-eds on local elections, and frequent media appearances discussing South Carolina and national politics. Ragusa co-founded the American Politics Research Team at the College of Charleston, which engages students in hands-on political research. The team has conducted exit polling during Charleston mayoral elections and produced publishable research on topics including the #NeverTrump movement and congressional behavior. Through this initiative, Ragusa provides students with valuable research experience while contributing to scholarly understanding of American politics.

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