Sayan Banerjee

Dr. Sayan Banerjee is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Texas Tech University. He earned his PhD in Government from the University of Essex, following an MA in Political Science from Villanova University and a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Calcutta. Prior to joining Texas Tech, he was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Oxford's Reuters Institute and at the University of Virginia's Democracy Initiative.

Dr. Banerjee's research consists of three interlinked pathways exploring themes of political behavior, ethnic politics, political communication, and South Asian politics. His work has been funded by prestigious organizations including Meta, the University of Virginia's Democracy Initiative, the Center for Global Inquiry and Innovation, the International Growth Centre based in the London School of Economics, and the National Science Foundation (US).

His first research track studies the causal effects of misinformation on intergroup relations and political behavior in diverse societies, with a focus on 'fake news' spread via WhatsApp in India. The second path examines how social capital, evidenced by residential segregation along ethnic and racial lines, informs belief in misinformation and influences political behavior. The third lane investigates determinants of women's political representation and pro-social behavioral change in South Asia.

Dr. Banerjee has received significant research funding and recognition for his work:

• Funding from Meta for misinformation research in India
• Grants from University of Virginia's Democracy Initiative
• Support from the Center for Global Inquiry and Innovation
• Funding from the International Growth Centre (London School of Economics)
• National Science Foundation (US) grants

He is actively involved in mentoring graduate students whose research interests align with comparative political behavior, social media, ethnic politics, and South Asian politics. Dr. Banerjee maintains an active research agenda with numerous recent publications focusing on gender norms, misinformation effects, political representation, and media trust.