This is a brief guide for individuals interested in applying to the PhD program at the Goldman School of Public Policy with me as advisor. Please see the GSPP PhD program website for logistical information on the PhD program and application process.
What kind of PhD students am I looking for?
I’m looking for students interested in using quantitative methods to study the political economy of the United States, with a focus in one or more of the following areas and their intersections:
US democracy (i.e., democratic backsliding, democratic inequality, economic inequality, money in politics, voting rights, electoral policy, redistricting, political institutions)
Civil society organizations (i.e., labor unions, corporations, activist organizations, religious congregations, foundations, law firms, traditional and social media ownership)
Political parties and elites
I advise PhD students whose primary methodological tools are quantitative. PhD student applicants should have knowledge of and experience with:
The math and mechanics of linear regression
Coding in R
Research design for causal inference (i.e., difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, instrumental variables, RCTs)