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Our lab supports advances in election science by collecting, analyzing, and sharing core data and findings. We also aim to build relationships with election officials and others to help apply new scientific research to the practice of democracy in the United States.

Data-Driven

We are committed to the improvement of scholarship and practice in election science through high-quality data gathering and analysis.

Scientific

In our own work and our collaborations with others, we adhere to the highest scientific standards of honesty, observability, and collegiality. 

Nonpartisan

By grounding our work in data and the scientific method, our recommendations aim to improve democratic practice for everyone.

People

Our staff of social scientists, researchers, and students are committed to improving democracy in the United States by promoting the application of scientific principles to the understanding of election administration.

Core Team

Founding Director
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Associate Director
Research Scientist
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Jared Dearing
Visiting Scientist
Communications Director
Zachary Djanogly Garai
Senior Research Associate
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program Coordinator
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Senior Research Associate
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Senior Research Associate

Current Graduate Researchers

Gabrielle Péloquin-Skulski
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Chris Vazquez

Current Undergraduate Researchers

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Janaki Kapadia
Annabelle Liefke
Daniel Rojas

MEDSL Alumni

Senior Research Associate
Abigale Belcrest
Program Coordinator
Laurel Bliss
Senior Research Associate
Senior Research Associate
Jacob Coblentz
Senior Research Associate
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Monica Crane Childers
Manager, Measuring Election Administration + Election Science
Research Scientist
Senior Research Associate
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Senior Research Associate
Robert Pressel
Senior Research Associate
Senior Research Associate
Camilla Valerio
Senior Research Associate
Anna Weissman
Senior Research Associate
Jack Williams
Senior Research Associate
Research Director

Former Graduate Researchers

Andrew Halterman
Jacob Jaffe
Connor Phillips
Blair Read
Laura Royden

Former Undergraduate Researchers

Sophia Abdelrahman
Kevin Acevedo
Kelechi Alfred-Igbokwe
Julia Ansolabehere
Andrea Arias
Lily Bailey
Laine Beauchemin
Kelsey Becker
Mustafa Ben
Reginald Best
Jackson Bliey
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Luka Bulic Braculj
Anna Caldwell-Overdier
Julia Campbell
Graham Cartright
Zhenjia Chen
Faith Davenport
Nisha Devasia
Jennifer Duan
Benjamin Ebanks
Sarah Edgar
Chidubem Ezike
Izzy Gelfand
Daniel Gonzalez
Yun Gu
Kaiwen Guo
Rachel Harris
Christina James
Zachary Johnson
Annie Kang
Jennifer Kim
Emily Kohn
Liberty Ladd
Diana Lam
Christina Lin
Rachel Lipofsky
Emma Lurie
Alex Meredith
Sam Pauley
Manuel Perez
Kirsi Rajagopal
Tayae Rogers
Kathryn Sessa
Pallavi Sethi
Alec Sheres
Daniel Stewart
Kathryn Tso
Sam Vinu-Srivatsan
Alex Vu
Amanda Webb
Emerson Webb
Phyllis Wei
Emily Weinschreider
Charlotte Wu
Andy Xu
Jennifer Yu
Silvia Zelaya
Miray Zeynep Omurtak
Cassandra Zheng
George Zheng
Sophia Zheng

Advisory Board

Lonna Rae Atkeson, LeRoy Collins Institute, Florida State University

Karen B. Bell, Executive Director, North Carolina State Board of Elections

Barry C. Burden, Department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Lori Edwards, Polk County, Florida Supervisor of Elections

Edward B. Foley, Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University

Bernard L. Fraga, Department of Political Science, Emory University

Amanda M. Grandjean, Director of Elections, Ohio

Paul Gronke, Political Science Department, Reed College

Kathleen Hale, Department of Political Science, Auburn University

Kevin Kennedy, State of Wisconsin, Retired

Jan Leighley, Department of Government, American University

Dean C. Logan, Los Angeles County, California Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk

Amber McReynolds, Former Elections Director, National Expert and Consultant

Tammy Patrick, Chief Executive Officer for Programs, The Election Center (National Association of Election Officials)

Daron R. Shaw, Department of Government, The University of Texas at Austin

Michelle Tassinari, Director/Legal Counsel, Elections Division, Massachusetts

Christopher Thomas, Michigan Bureau of Elections Director, Retired

Michael B. Winn, Election Director, Harris County, Texas

Our Funders

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Job Opportunities

We are currently hiring for a research associate position, to start in the summer of 2024. Find more information and apply through the MIT portal here

If you are interested in an MIT Undergraduate Research Opportunity, please contact us

 

For more information on how to get involved please contact
Claire DeSoi