Candidates and Career Outcomes

2019-2020 Job Market Candidates

Huseyin Ilgaz

Huseyin Ilgaz is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science with specializations in international relations and comparative politics. His research focuses on peace, conflict resolution, civil conflict, external interventions, conflict termination, temporal interdependence, bargaining theory, and democratization. He is currently writing a dissertation on the role of external interventions in ending internal wars. The chapter on interdependence in his dissertation was awarded the best graduate student paper at the 2017 PPSA Conference.

At Pitt, he has taught multiple standalone classes, including World Politics, Comparative Politics, Civil Wars, and Peacemaking and Peacekeeping courses; and was awarded the 2019 Elizabeth Baranger Excellence in Teaching Award.

Huseyin graduated summa cum laude in Turkey with a Bachelor of Science in Systems and industrial Engineering. He holds three Master of Arts degrees in Strategic Management, Security Studies, and International Relations from universities in Turkey and the United States. Prior to coming to Pitt, Huseyin worked as a state official on various topics, including management, leadership, strategic planning, and counterterrorism.

Dong Ju Lee

Dong Ju is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh, with concentrations in International Relations and Methodology. Dong Ju studies foreign lobbying, diplomacy, international institutions, and the intersection of international and domestic politics. Her dissertation "Who Lobbies and When: Analyzing the Patterns of Foreign Lobbying" explores the determinants of foreign lobbying. Dong Ju examines how the magnitude of foreign lobbying varies across countries, time, and issues, using an original dataset compiled from foreign lobbying reports since 1971. Her research has been funded by the Mitsubishi Foundation.

Dong Ju has experience in teaching International Relations, Comparative Politics and data analysis at the undergraduate level. She received a Master's degree in Political Science from Columbia University and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science & International Relations from Ewha Womans University in South Korea.

Career outcomes and trajectories of recent graduates

Graduates are listed alphabetically by year of graduation.

2018-2019

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Douglas Block Violence, Vote Choice and the Provision of Public Security in Brazilian States. Barry Ames    
Leslie Marshall Three Essays on the Possibilities for Realizing the Political Representation of Women’s Collective Interests. Laura Paler, Steven Finkel    
Sofia Vera Rojas Electoral Accountability for Corruption in Latin America. Steven Finkel Visiting Assistant Professor, Reed College  

2017-2018

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Michael Neureiter On the Origins and Effects of Contemporary Immigrant Integration Policy in Western Europe Steven Finkel Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh  
Shane Redman   Chris Bonneau Data Project Manager at ICPSR, University of Michigan  
Alejandro Trelles   Scott Morgenstern Assistant Professor, Brandeis University  

2016-2017

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Hakan Gunaydin IMF Structural Conditionality and Special Interest Groups: Determinants of Program Implementation in Labor Market and Financial Sector Jude Hays Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Konstanz Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Konstanz
Yasemin İrepoğlu Carreras Decentralization, Interactive Governance and Income Inequality: A Comparative Study B. Guy Peters Assistant Professor of Teaching, University of California - Riverside Assistant Professor of Teaching, University of California - Riverside
Jarrod Kelly The "Ideological" Electorate: A Self-Categorization Theory of Ideological Identification Jon Hurwitz Assistant Professor, North Carolina Wesleyan College Assistant Professor, North Carolina Wesleyan College
Lauren Perez National Parliamentary Involvement in EU Policy-Making: Questions, Resolutions, and Transposition B. Guy Peters Collegiate Assistant Professor, Harper-Schmidt Fellow, University of Chicago Collegiate Assistant Professor, Harper-Schmidt Fellow, University of Chicago

2015-2016

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Andrea Aldrich National Parties and European Legislators Jonathan Woon Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Chicago Lecturer, Yale University
Ignacio Arana-Araya The Quest for Uncontested Power: How Presidents’ Personality Traits Leads to Constitutional Change in the Western Hemisphere Anibal Pérez-Liñán Post-doctoral Fellow, Institute for Politics and Strategy, Carnegie Mellon University Post-doctoral Fellow, Institute for Politics and Strategy, Carnegie Mellon University
Emilie Blais The Uploading of National Policies in the European Union B. Guy Peters Qualitative Research Officer, Senzo International Benchmark Officer, Pôle emploi
Ian Cook Content and Context: Three Essays on Information in Politics Jonathan Woon Data Scientist, kWantera Senior Data Scientist, Tulco Labs
Benjamin Melusky Institutional Capacity in the American States George Krause Visiting Assistant Professor, Franklin and Marshall College Assistant Professor, Old Dominion University
John Polga-Hecimovich Bureaucratic Circumvention: Policy Delegation Strategies and Implementation Success in Low Capacity Bureaucracies, with Evidence from Latin America Scott Morgenstern & Anibal Pérez-Liñán Visiting Assistant Professor, Wake Forest University Assistant Professor, United States Naval Academy
Cassilde Schwartz The Paradox of Confrontation: Experimental Evidence on the Audience Effects of Protest Barry Ames Post-doctoral Researcher, University College London Lecturer in Quantitative Methods, Royal Holloway, University of London

2014-2015

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Néstor Castañeda-Angarita Economic Power and Political Influence: Business Groups and Taxation in Latin America Anibal Perez-Linan Lecturer, University of Southampton Assistant Professor of Latin American Political Economy, University College London
Sarah Cormack-Patton Citizens, Residents, and Guest Workers: A Transatlantic Analysis of Immigrant Rights and Political Cleavages Jude Hays Postdoctoral Scholar, Europe Center at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Postdoctoral Scholar, Europe Center at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Miguel Carreras Outside Presidents, Institutional Performance, and Governability in Latin America Anibal Pérez-Liñán Assistant Professor, University of California, Riverside Assistant Professor, University of California, Riverside
Eric Loepp Conflicting Cues: The Role of Race, Gender, and Policy Information in Primary Elections Jon Hurwitz & Kristin Kanthak Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

2013-2014

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Aaron Abbarno The Behavioral Consequences of Political Tolerance Steven Finkel Democracy Fellow in Comparative Politics and Democratization, Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Director of Research, Evidence, & Data, Democracy International
Scott Cook Rare Events in International Relations: Modeling Heterogeneity and Interdependence with Sparse Data Jude Hays & Burcu Savun Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University
Jennifer Laks Hutnick A Regional Weapon of Choice: Forum Choice in International Trade Disputes Daniela Donno & Jude Hays Adjunct Professor, Glouchester County College Mathematical Statistician, US Census Bureau
Heather Rice A Policy-Driven Theory of State Institutional Opinion Leadership: The Case of Gay Rights in the American States Susan Hansen Assistant Professor, Slippery Rock University Associate Professor, Slippery Rock University
Yen-pin Su Opposition Parties and Anti-Government Protests in Comparative Perspective Scott Morgenstern & Anibal Pérez-Liñán Assistant Professor, National Chengchi University Assistant Professor, National Chengchi University

2012-2013

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Kristen Coopie Allen The Structure of Electoral Success: Determining Victory or Defeat From Contribution Dispersion in State Legislative Races Jennifer Victor & Kristin Kanthak Assistant Professor, Wright State University Adjunct Professor, Carnegie Mellon University
William T. Daniel All Roads Lead Through Brussels? Career Ambition and the European Parliament B. Guy Peters Assistant Professor, Francis Marion University Assistant Professor, Francis Marion University
Padi Hallam Joseph Liberty, Equality, and Kindness?: How the Strategic Choice of Values Affect Policy Attitudes and Information Choices Jon Hurwitz Senior Project Director, YouGov Policy & Comms Research (Marketing Insights), Facebook
Hirokazu Kikuchi Federalism and the Limits of Presidential Powers: The Case of the Argentine Senate Anibal Pérez-Liñán Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba Associate Senior Research Fellow, Latin American Studies Group, Area Studies Center, Institute of Developing Economies
Myung-Shik Kim Institutional Varieties of Productivist Welfare Capitalism in East Asia B. Guy Peters Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee at Martin Assistant Professor, Spelman College
Brandon Lenoir Studying the Effects of Mobilization Messages in a Strategic Environment: Applying the Receive-Accept-Sample (RAS) Model David Barker Visiting Assistant Professor, Dickinson College Assistant Professor of Communication, High Point University
Shawna Metzger Conflict Dynamics in Militarized Interstate Disputes Charles Gochman Lecturer, National University of Singapore Visiting Assistant Professor, William & Mary College

2011-2012

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Brian Phillips How Terrorist Organizations Survive: Cooperation and Competition in Terrorist Group Networks Burcu Savun Assistant Professor, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in International Relations, University of Essex
Amy Erica Smith Personal Connections to the Political World: Social Influences on Democratic Competence in Brazil and in Comparative Context Barry Ames & Steven Finkel Research Coordinator for LA Public Opinion project, Vanderbilt University Associate Professor, Iowa State University
Daniel Tirone Politics and the Effectiveness of Humanitarian Aid Burcu Savun & David Bearce Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University

2010-2011

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Juan Carlos Rodríguez-Raga Strategic Prudence in the Colombian Constitutional Court, 1992-2006 Barry Ames Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
Laura Wills-Otero Latin American Traditional Parties: The Impact of Parties' Internal Features on Their Electoral Performance, 1978-2006 Anibal Pérez-Liñán Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
Basak Yavcan Ural Public Opinion Towards Immigration in Europe: A Heterogeneous Approach Steve Finkel Tenure track position at TOBB University Ankara, Turkey Tenure track position at TOBB University Ankara, Turkey
Galina Zapryanova Looks Can Be Deceiving: Explaining Euroscepticism in Central and East Europe Ronald Linden Postdoctoral Fellow, European University Institute MaxWeber Consulting associate, Gallup

2009-2010

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Maria Andrea Castagnola Rethinking Judicial Instability in Developing Democracies: A National and Subnational Analysis of Supreme Courts in Argentina Anibal Pérez-Liñán & Chris Bonneau Adjunct Professor, Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico/Political Science Department Assistant Professor, School of Politics and Government at Universidad Nacional de San Martin, Argentina
Miguel Garcia Political Violence and Electoral Democracy in Colombia. Participation and Voting Behavior in Violent Contexts Barry Ames Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
Ana Carolina Garriga Determinants of Central Bank Independence in Developing Countries: A Two-Level Theory Barry Ames & David Bearce Assistant Professor of Political Science, Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) Lecturer in International Relations in the Department of Government, University of Essex
Agustin Grijalva Courts and Political Parties: The Politics of Constitutional Review in Ecuador Anibal Pérez-Liñán & Barry Ames Professor, Universidad Andina, Quito-Ecuador Law School Professor, Universidad Andina, Quito-Ecuador Law School
Andrew Lotz The Adaptive Approach to Democracy: A New Look at Democratic Governance in the European Union Michael Goodhart Lecturer, University of Pittsburgh Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies / Academic Advisor / Lecturer, University of Pittsburgh
Dana Adriana Puia The Dynamics of Institutional Change and the Case of the EU Budgetary Negotiations Alberta Sbragia   Policy Officer, European Commission
Ekaterina Rashkova Political Learning and the Number of Parties: Why Age Matters Scott Morgenstern Post Doctoral Fellow, Leiden University, Netherlands Assistant Professor of Public Governance and Management, Utrecht University

2008-2009

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Stacy Bondanella Intergovernmental Organizations and the Determinants of Member State Interest Convergence David Bearce Assistant Professor of Political Science, Gonzaga University Associate Professor of Political Science, Gonzaga University
Luis Francisco Jimenez "De Paisano a Paisano: Mexican Migrants and the Transferrence of Political Attitudes to their Countries of Origin" Jon Hurwitz & Ronald Linden Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Boston Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Boston
Lisa Pohlman London Attitudes toward Membership in the European Union in the Czech Republic and Slovakia Barry Ames & David Bearce Survey Analyst, YouGov/Polimetrix Director, Strategic Consulting, MaritzCX
Liying Ren Surveying Public Opinion in Transitional China: An Examination of Survey Response Wenfang Tang PAssistant Research Fellow, Institute of Social Science Survey/Peking University Associate Research Professor / Director, Data Division, The Institute of Social Science Survey, Peking University

2007-2008

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Katharine Floros Of, By, and For the People? How Demographic Pressure Affects Participation in Inter- and Intra-State Conflicts David Bearce Assistant Professor, University of Missouri Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago
Heather Elko McKibben The Effects of Issue Linkabe on State Bargaining Strategies: Institutional Conditiosn for Cooperative and Non-cooperative Bargaining Alberta Sbragia & Charles Gochman Assistant Professor, University of California-Davis Assistant Professor, University of California-Davis
Rosario Queirolo The Impact of Neoliberal Economic Reforms on Latin Americans' Voting Behavior (1980-2004) Barry Ames & Mitchell Seligson Assistant Professor, Universidad de Montevideo, Uruguay Associate Professor and Department Chair, Department of Social and Political Sciences, Universidad Catolica del Uruguay

2006-2007

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Kostas Kourtikakis Isomoprhic Pressures and the European Union: The Transfer of Public Accountability Organizations to the Supranational Level B. Guy Peters Visiting Lecturer, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Teaching Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Morgan Marietta From My Cold, Dead Hands: Democratic Consequences of Sacred Rhetoric David Barker Visiting Assistant Professor, Colgate University Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Zeki Sarigil Endogenizing Institutions B. Guy Peters Bilkent University Associate Professor, Bilkent University
Matthew Weinstein Trying to Keep Up With the Jonses: A Study of Peer Diffusion by American Public Research Universities B. Guy Peters Executive Director of Administration, Institutional Advancement Associate Vice President for College Development and University Initiatives at Carnegie Mellon University

2005-2006

Name Dissertation Title Dissertation Advisor Initial post-PhD position Current position
Stephanie McLean Electoral Legitimacy in the United States: Effects on Political Efficacy, Trust and Participation Jon Hurwitz IPSOS-Reid Polling Senior Advisor, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Nils Ringe Policy Preference Formation in Legislative Politics: Structures, Actors, and Focal Points Alberta Sbragia Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor, Director of the Center for European Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Francesco Stolfi Reforming Italy's Budget Process, 1960-1999: Europeanization in Context Alberta Sbragia Visiting Assistant Professor, Allegheny College Lecturer, Macquaire University
Tara Stricko State High Courts: Independent or Constrained Actors? Chris Bonneau Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University Associate Professor of Political Science