My academic research sits at the intersection of political theory and empirical social science and focuses on the politics of science. In particular, I investigate how the authority of scientific experts affects how states engage with society. My ongoing work on China offers new evidence and theory to comparative questions of the politics of science and suggests alternative frameworks for interpreting central questions about authority and legitimacy.

In addition to my dissertation project, which explored the intersection of science and charismatic legitimacy in contemporary China, I have conducted research on state-scientist relations, technocracy, and social policy issues. I am currently a 2024-2025 China Fellow at the Wilson Center and an Affiliated Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania.

I have wide-ranging interests in topics across political science, sociology, and theory, and have previously conducted research on social policy and political economy in both the United States and China.

I am also available to tell you why you probably shouldn’t do a Ph.D, if you feel like asking. By appointment only. (No appointment needed.)

Curriculum Vitae

For a full list of publications, education, in-progress work, and more, please find my academic CV here.