Erica Laplante

Erica Laplante serves as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute and Director of the Human Rights Research Hub at the University of Connecticut, where she conducts research and provides administrative support for conferences and events.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Connecticut (2022)
• MA in Human Rights Studies, Columbia University
• BA in International Relations, Connecticut College

Her research centers on human rights with specialized focus on sex work regulation, stigma, and institutional frameworks. Her dissertation analyzed how regulatory models impact sex workers' rights in Nevada and New South Wales, examining strategies sex workers develop for self-protection and livelihood in exclusionary environments. Additional research interests include business and human rights, economic/social rights, and democratic processes, reflecting her work with Dodd Impact’s Democracy & Dialogues Initiative and UConn’s Business and Human Rights Initiative.

As Director of the Human Rights Research Hub, she leads data-focused human rights research initiatives. Previous roles included graduate assistant positions for Dodd Impact’s Democracy & Dialogues Initiative, UConn’s Business and Human Rights Initiative, and the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute. No information was provided regarding advisees, research grants, or scientific awards.