Find Academic Supervisors

Dr. Sarah F. Anzia is the Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, with a joint affiliation at the Goldman School of Public Policy. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Niskanen Center and a Senior Fellow (adjunct) at the Hoover Institution. Her research bridges American politics, public policy, and subnational governance. Her work focuses on state and local government election timing and voter turnout interest group influence public-sector labor dynamics gender in electoral politics pension policy The 15 most recent publications highlight her expertise in historical labor movements policy feedback theory local taxation public-sector pension economics gender dynamics in electoral outcomes subnational institutional analysis Her studies often employ quantitative datasets spanning multiple decades of local government financial records and electoral patterns. Scientific recognition includes National Research Data Access via Goldman School working papers Senior Fellowships at Niskanen Center and Hoover Institution Endowed Chancellor's Professorship at UC Berkeley Key research contributions examine the interplay between business groups and labor unions in local governance structural determinants of senior citizen policy influence pension fund governance mechanisms historical development of local electoral institutions She received her PhD in political science from Stanford University and holds an MPP from the Harris School at the University of Chicago.

• American politics
• State and local government
• Elections
• +6 more

Dr. Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Christopher Newport University (CNU) and serves as Research Director of the Wason Center for Civic Leadership. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science from Michigan State University and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Texas, San Antonio. Her research focuses on state and local climate policy, the interplay between public opinion and policy, and the role of science in policymaking. Dr. Bromley-Trujillo previously taught as an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky before joining CNU. Research Interests: American environmental policy State and local climate change policy efforts Public opinion and policy relationships Scientific influence on policy processes Her work appears in journals such as Review of Policy Research , Climatic Change , and Journal of Public Policy . She co-authored Climate Policy in the American States (2024) and developed the CHORUS dataset analyzing state interest group policy positions. Her recent research explores experimental climate policy designs and the judicialization of federalism in U.S. politics. Professional Affiliations: Center for Sustainability in Education (CNU) Wason Center for Civic Leadership (CNU) Dr. Bromley-Trujillo's teaching spans American politics, environmental policy, public administration, and political behavior. She emphasizes applied research and policy analysis in her academic work.

• American Environmental Policy
• Public Opinion and Policy
• Climate Change Policy
• +3 more

Jiehong Lou is an Assistant Research Professor and Assistant Research Director at the Center for Global Sustainability (CGS) within the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. Her expertise spans climate finance, energy economics, environmental policy, and transportation equity. She holds a PhD in policy sciences from the University of Maryland, with additional degrees in public policy and applied economics from the same institution, and a BA in public policy from Tongji University in China. Her research focuses on mobilizing private climate finance, corporate motivations for carbon investments, evaluating co-benefits of climate projects, and analyzing disparities in transportation and energy accessibility. She previously served as a postdoctoral fellow with the Maryland Transportation Institute. Her work often integrates interdisciplinary approaches, combining economic modeling with policy analysis to address global sustainability challenges. Lou has contributed to high-ambition climate pathways for countries like Indonesia, South Korea, and China, emphasizing equitable transitions and policy reforms. She co-authored studies on EV infrastructure equity, coal phaseout strategies, and the socioeconomic impacts of energy policies. Her recent projects include analyzing renewable energy investment needs in China and Indonesia’s decarbonization pathways. Lou collaborates with international organizations and policymakers, bridging academic research with practical climate solutions. Her work is published in journals like npj Climate Action and peer-reviewed energy policy outlets, with a focus on actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders.

• Climate Finance
• Energy Economics
• Environmental Policy
• +4 more

Tyler Simko is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan, specializing in US state and local politics, political geography, and computational social science. His research focuses on understanding and addressing inequality in American public policy through innovative methodological approaches. Education: Ph.D. in Government, Harvard University (2024) A.B. in Politics, Princeton University Simko's research examines state and local politics in the United States with particular focus on political geography and subnational policymaking. His active research agendas include legislative redistricting ("gerrymandering"), local public meetings, school segregation, affordable housing, and data privacy. Methodologically, he develops new techniques in computational social science and machine learning to evaluate subnational inequality and how it can be reduced. His work regularly involves partnerships with federal, state, and local officials to improve the design of public policy. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on applying computational methods to address real-world policy challenges, particularly in school desegregation, redistricting, and local government transparency. His research often leverages large-scale data collection efforts, such as LocalView (the largest database of local government meetings in the US), to analyze patterns of political behavior and policy outcomes across different jurisdictions. Awards and Recognition: APSA 2024-25 Best Paper in Education Politics and Policy Award APSA 2024-25 Best Paper in Urban and Local Politics, Honorable Mention MPSA 2024 Robert H. Durr Award for "the best paper applying quantitative methods to a substantive problem" Derek C. Bok Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching of Undergraduates (2023) Simko teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in American Politics and Political Methodology at the University of Michigan. His teaching experience spans multiple institutions, including Harvard University and Princeton University. He has designed innovative courses on US Local Policymaking, data science, and computational social science. As a Data Scientist at the Office of Evaluation Sciences, he partners with federal, state, and local officials to improve program design and reduce administrative burdens. He is a co-PI of the Algorithm-Assisted Redistricting Methodology (ALARM) Project and co-creator of LocalView, the largest audio, video, and text database of local government meetings in the United States. These projects represent significant contributions to the field of computational social science and provide valuable resources for researchers studying local governance and policy-making.

• State and Local Politics
• Political Geography
• Subnational Policymaking
• +5 more

Andrés Mejía Acosta serves as the Kuster Family Associate Dean for Policy and Practice and Associate Professor of Political Economy of Development in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. A Kellogg Institute Faculty Fellow since 2023, he previously held positions as Reader of Political Economy at King's College London (2013-2022) and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sussex's Institute of Development Studies. University of Notre Dame (Current) King's College London (2013-2022) University of Sussex (2006-2013) Multiple Latin American institutions including FLACSO Ecuador Mejía Acosta's research examines formal and informal political bargaining dynamics among government elites when adopting sustainable and inclusive policies in low- and middle-income countries. His work spans comparative political institutions , transparency and accountability in extractive industries , fiscal decentralization , and nutrition governance . He leads the Analysing Nutrition Governance project across nine countries including Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Niger, Pakistan, Peru, and Zambia. His recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward understanding how political dynamics affect social outcomes, particularly in nutrition policy and fiscal governance. The research demonstrates sophisticated analysis of subnational political dynamics and their impact on public spending and policy implementation across different institutional contexts. Professional Recognition: Consultant for British Department for International Development Advisory role for the Carter Center and Freedom House Technical advisor to Inter-American Development Bank and UNICEF Key contributor to Ecuador's National Strategy for the Prevention and Eradication of Malnutrition (2021-23) Mejía Acosta actively mentors students and collaborates with international development organizations. His current research on executive-led state erosion in Ecuador (2024-2025) continues his longstanding focus on political institutions in Latin America. He frequently participates in high-level policy discussions, recently moderating panels on Mexico's constitutional politics and digital democracy, and has presented at numerous conferences including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 75th anniversary forum.

• Comparative Political Institutions
• Political Economy of Policymaking
• Nutrition Governance
• +5 more

Robert N. Stavins is the A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy & Economic Development at Harvard Kennedy School, where he also serves as Director of Graduate Studies for the Doctoral Programs in Public Policy and in Political Economy and Government, Cochair of the MPP/MBA and MPA/ID/MBA Joint Degree Programs, Director of the Harvard Environmental Economics Program, and Director of the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements. He is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and a University Fellow of Resources for the Future. Stavins holds a BA in philosophy from Northwestern University, an MS in agricultural economics from Cornell, and a PhD in economics from Harvard. His educational background reflects the interdisciplinary nature of his work at the intersection of economics, policy, and environmental science. His research spans diverse areas of environmental economics and policy, with particular expertise in market-based environmental policy instruments, climate change policy, energy economics, and the economics of wine. Stavins has examined the theoretical foundations and practical applications of cap-and-trade systems, carbon taxation, and other market-based approaches to environmental problems. His work has appeared in numerous economics, law, and policy journals, as well as several books. Stavins' recent publications reveal a strong focus on methane emissions reduction, international climate policy cooperation (particularly between the U.S. and China), electric vehicle market dynamics, and the implications of U.S. climate policy shifts under changing administrations. His research employs both theoretical economic modeling and empirical analysis of policy outcomes. Among his notable professional activities, Stavins directed Project 88, a bipartisan effort co-chaired by former Senator Timothy Wirth and the late Senator John Heinz to develop innovative approaches to environmental problems. He has served as former Chair of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Economics Advisory Board and is a member of editorial councils of scholarly periodicals. Stavins has been extensively engaged in policy outreach, serving as a consultant to government agencies, international organizations, corporations, and advocacy groups. He leads the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements, which conducts research on international climate policy architecture and facilitates dialogue among policymakers, academics, and stakeholders.

• Environmental Economics
• Climate Change Policy
• Energy Economics
• +4 more

Peverill Squire is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Missouri, holding the Hicks and Martha Griffiths Chair in American Political Institutions since 2007. He previously taught at the University of Iowa and served as a visiting professor at Meiji University (Tokyo) and held the John Marshall Chair in Political Science at Budapest University of Economic Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley (1986). His research focuses on American politics, legislative studies, and state and local governance, with expertise in electoral systems, institutional evolution, and comparative legislative analysis. He has held leadership roles, including senior editor of Legislative Studies Quarterly , chair of the American Political Science Association’s Legislative Studies Section, and co-chair of the International Political Science Association’s Research Committee on Legislative Specialists. In 2018, he received the Career Achievement Award from the American Political Science Association’s State Politics and Policy Section. His work spans historical and contemporary analyses of legislatures, electoral reforms, and subnational politics. Recent studies include ballot measure reforms, legislative professionalization indices, and the evolution of democratic processes in the U.S. and globally. His research often bridges historical context with modern institutional challenges, emphasizing comparative and longitudinal approaches.

• American Politics
• Legislative Studies
• State and Local Politics
• +3 more

Lindsay Mayka is an Associate Professor of Government and Chair of Latin American Studies at Colby College. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from UC Berkeley and has published extensively on participatory institutions and institutional design in Latin America. Ph.D. in Political Science, UC Berkeley M.P.P. in Public Policy, UC Berkeley B.A. in Political Science, Carleton College Her research focuses on: Origins of participatory institutions in Latin America Politics of institutional weakness and reform Citizen engagement in policymaking Human rights frames in urban security Right-wing grassroots movements in Latin America Key article trends include: Comparative analysis of participatory mechanisms Role of institutional design in policy outcomes Intersection of civil society and state reform Urban governance in the Global South Democratic backsliding and resilience Scientific awards include: Clarence Stone Scholar Award (2020) LASA Subnational Politics Best Paper Award (2020) Annotation for Transparent Inquiry Challenge (2018) LASA/Oxfam Diskin Dissertation Award (2013) Lindsay advises numerous undergraduate thesis students and has received multiple Social Science Division grants at Colby College. She serves on editorial committees and academic panels, including for Comparative Politics and APSA Urban and Local Politics Section.

• Latin American politics
• Citizen participation in policymaking
• Civil society organizations
• +5 more

Scott L. Greer is a Professor of Health Management and Policy, Global Public Health, and Political Science (by courtesy) at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health. He also serves as a senior expert advisor on health governance for the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. His research focuses on the politics of health policies, particularly the European Union's policies, federalism's impact on healthcare, and pandemic response strategies. Prior to joining the University of Michigan, he taught at University College London. He has authored numerous books, including European Union Public Health Policies (2013), Civil Society and Health (2017), and Federalism and Social Policy (2018). Greer holds a PhD in Political Science from Northwestern University (2003) and a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1996). His research interests include the political dynamics of public health decisions, EU integration, disaster resilience, and the myth of aging societies' healthcare costs. He has led comparative studies on pandemic responses across 30+ countries and is currently investigating the political dimensions of healthy aging. Greer is affiliated with the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia as a faculty member. Key publications emphasize EU health policy analysis, post-Brexit UK health challenges, and the role of science in policymaking. His work highlights governance structures, federalism's role in health systems, and the interplay between political systems and health outcomes. Greer teaches courses on comparative health policy, public health politics, and qualitative research methods.

• Health Policy
• European Union Policy
• Federalism and Social Policy
• +4 more

Thomas Rutherford is a Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds a PhD in Operations Research from Stanford University (1987) and a BS in Engineering and Applied Science from Yale University (1977). His research focuses on computable general equilibrium modeling, climate policy design, international trade dynamics, and carbon pricing mechanisms. He has contributed extensively to understanding border carbon adjustments, carbon leakage mitigation, and the economic implications of global trade policies. His work integrates advanced mathematical modeling with real-world policy analysis, addressing topics such as the strategic value of carbon tariffs, the environmental impacts of trade liberalization, and the design of subnational carbon pricing systems. Rutherford has authored influential studies on the economic effects of climate policies like the Paris Agreement and has explored the intersections between energy markets, trade agreements, and environmental sustainability. Key areas of his research include: Modeling frameworks for climate policy evaluation Design of border carbon adjustments to prevent leakage Analysis of global trade patterns and their environmental consequences Economic impacts of renewable energy policies His recent publications emphasize the urgency of addressing carbon pricing conflicts post-Trump and the strategic role of trade policies in climate governance. Rutherford collaborates with international institutions and policymakers to translate academic insights into actionable strategies for sustainable development.

• Environmental Economics
• International Trade Policy
• Climate Change Mitigation
• +4 more

Xue Gao is an Assistant Professor at the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy at Florida State University. Her research focuses on the interplay between policy, politics, technology, and society in the energy transition process. She examines how policies influence energy innovation, equity, and governance, with a focus on renewable energy adoption, energy justice, and regulatory frameworks. Education: Ph.D. in Public Policy (LBJ School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin) M.S. in Statistics and Data Science (The University of Texas at Austin) M.A. in Public Administration (Tsinghua University, China) B.A. in Economics (Southeast University, China) Research Interests: Dr. Gao’s work spans energy policy evaluation, renewable energy innovation ecosystems, energy equity, and the socio-technical dynamics of energy transitions. She analyzes how policies shape firm behavior, technology diffusion, and community resilience, with a focus on marginalized populations. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates quantitative methods and policy analysis to address real-world challenges. Funding & Grants: Her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Energy, funding studies on energy equity, renewable energy deployment, and policy design. Advising: While specific advisee names are not listed, Dr. Gao mentors graduate students in public policy, energy studies, and interdisciplinary sustainability research. Policy Contributions: She collaborates with policymakers and institutions to inform energy transition strategies, emphasizing equitable and efficient pathways. Her work bridges academic insights with actionable policy solutions.

• Energy Policy
• Renewable Energy Innovation
• Energy Justice
• +3 more

Tara Grillos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Purdue University. She completed her Ph.D. in Public Policy at Harvard University, a master’s in International Studies, and a bachelor’s in Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Purdue in 2017, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Colorado, Boulder's Institute of Behavioral Science. Her research focuses on the human dimensions of sustainable development policy, examining how local governance arrangements affect environmental behavior and collective action, as well as policy impacts on human well-being, health, and equity. She employs experimental and quasi-experimental methods combined with fieldwork in developing countries such as Honduras, Bolivia, and Kenya through partnerships with local NGOs and government agencies. Recent publications highlight her work on Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), decentralization, participatory governance, and equity in environmental and health policy. Her research explores topics like bureaucratic accountability, institutional cooperation, and gender inclusion in sustainability initiatives. She teaches POL 223: Introduction to Environmental Policy and is affiliated with Purdue's Policy Center for the Environment, Building Sustainable Communities, and Ecological Sciences and Engineering initiatives.

• Sustainable Development Policy
• Environmental Governance
• Collective Action
• +4 more

Sarah Giroux is an Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Global Development and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Strategic Programs at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Her research focuses on demographic change, inequality, and development in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the impact of fertility declines on education and socioeconomic outcomes. She employs decomposition methods to study macro-level social change and has led large-scale data collection projects, including a nationally representative survey in Cameroon. Giroux teaches courses on global development, research methods, and social inequality. Her work is supported by grants from the Minerva Program, Hewlett Foundation, and Spencer Foundation. Education: Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Sociology from Cornell University (2011, 2006, 2003). Awards include the Stephen H. Weiss Provost’s Teaching Fellow and NACTA Award of Merit. She co-leads the PINCHET Project tracking youth transitions in Cameroon and collaborates with policymakers and NGOs to design human capital programs. Her research bridges demographic analysis with policy relevance, emphasizing methodological innovation to address real-world challenges. Recent work explores the demographic dividend in Africa and the role of education in global economic convergence. Teaching focuses on fostering quantitative literacy and critical thinking through experiential learning.

• Demography
• Development Economics
• Social Inequality
• +3 more

David Gamage is the Law School Foundation Distinguished Professor of Tax Law & Policy at the University of Missouri School of Law, where he joined in 2024 as part of the MizzouForward program. He previously held professorial positions at Indiana University Maurer School of Law and the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, and has served as a visiting professor at Duke University School of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, and the University of Texas School of Law. His educational background includes: BA, Stanford University MA in Economic and Organizational Sociology, Stanford University JD, Yale Law School Gamage is a leading scholar in tax law and policy, health law and policy, public finance, and fiscal federalism. His research focuses on federal and state tax policy, tax theory, the intersection of taxation and healthcare, and fiscal crisis management. He is ranked among the top 10 most-cited U.S. tax law scholars and third all-time among tax professors on SSRN, reflecting his significant influence in the field. His recent and forthcoming articles explore trends in taxing dynastic wealth, state-level taxation of the wealthy, tax base enforcement, e-commerce tax compliance, and fiscal sustainability. These works demonstrate a consistent focus on equity, enforcement, and systemic reform in tax systems. He has received the Law School Foundation Distinguished Professor of Tax Law & Policy honor, recognizing his scholarly excellence. Gamage has advised federal and state policymakers on tax and health law reform, including drafting tax provisions of the Affordable Care Act during his tenure as Special Counsel to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (2010–2012). He has contributed to legislative efforts in California, Illinois, New York, and Vermont. He is also a lead author on Supreme Court amicus briefs and has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts. He is currently working on a book under contract with Oxford University Press and continues to mentor emerging scholars and contribute to high-impact policy debates.

• Tax Law and Policy
• Health Law and Policy
• Public Finance
• +7 more

Paul Testa is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Brown University, specializing in applying designed-based inference to study the politics of race and criminal justice. He examines how criminal justice interactions shape political behavior and public perceptions of justice. His work appears in top journals like the American Journal of Political Science and Journal of Politics . He teaches quantitative methods at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Education: PhD in Political Science (2016, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) and BA in Government and Economics (2007, Cornell University). Research focuses on racial disparities in criminal justice, public opinion formation, and the efficacy of social movement messaging. Recent projects include analyzing pandemic responses in Brazil, Mexico, and the U.S., and studying gender equity advocacy through male allyship. Awards include the Catt Prize (2015) and George T. Yu Travel Award (2016). He is a Policy Lab fellow at Brown, integrating behavioral insights into public policy, and an affiliate at the Taubman Center for American Politics. His teaching includes courses on quantitative research methods and the politics of race in criminal justice.

• Political Behavior
• Race and Ethnicity
• Criminal Justice
• +3 more