Meet Our Research Team

Doctoral Student, Cornell University (Brooks School)

Program: Doctorate of Public Policy (PhD)

Hidden Costs of Care: Financialization, Politics, and Power in the American Healthcare System​

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Amaya M. Gaines is a fourth-year doctoral student at Cornell University's Brooks School of Public Policy, with a disciplinary emphasis on Government. Broadly, her research examines American politics, public policy, and political economy, with attention to how the politics of public policy shape market inequalities along the lines of race, gender, and class. Her work explores how Americans make sense of politics through identity and lived experience, including economic precarity and inequality, and how these interpretations inform policy preferences, attitudes toward government, and perceptions of democratic responsiveness. She uses mixed-methods research, primarily combining survey research and qualitative analysis, to better understand policy problems and their implications for governance. Amaya is committed to producing research that is accessible and engages both within and beyond academia.

Doctoral Candidate, Texas State University

Program: Doctorate of Aplied Anthropology (PhD)

An Ethnographic Case Study of Identity and Activism Against Central Texas Data Centers​

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Caroline is a PhD candidate and linguistic anthropologist specializing in ideologies of English in postcolonial, multilingual contexts. She received her BA in Anthropology from Texas State University and her MA in Linguistics from Universität zu Köln with a specialization in African languages. As an applied researcher, she is interested in the impact of policy and discourse on local attitudes and identities. Beyond her dissertation research, Caroline is engaged in a collaborative ethnographic project documenting the sociocultural impacts of AI data center resistance efforts in Central Texas.

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Master's Candidate, King's College London

Program: International Relations

Algorithmic Governance and the Shift from Democratic to Technocratic Power

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Allison is a recent graduate of Virginia Tech, where she earned a B.A. in International Relations with a minor in Economics. Beginning in Fall 2026, she will pursue a masters degree in International Political Economy at King's College London. Her research interests include political economy, democratic resilience, institutional trust, and the intersection of economic and security dynamics. Since Fall 2025, she has conducted research with RRI and has also contributed to research initiatives at the Virginia Tech Hume Center for National Security and Technology. 

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Junior, Columbia University

Program: American Studies and Religion

The Song of American Democracy​

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Marcus Chae is completing his degree in American Studies and Religion with a minor in AI. On campus, He serves as Class President and is a decorated member of the Columbia Model United Nations debate team. Marcus has gained hands-on experience in local politics and campaign strategy through work on Jim Walden's NYC Mayoral campaign, and with North Shore Strategies, a political consulting firm, where he assisted with campaign operations and strategic planning for local candidates. His foreign policy interests have grown through a part-time internship with the United Nations Mission of Trinidad and Tobago, where he supported the country’s historic Security Council bid. Through his academic and professional experiences, Marcus has developed a strong interest in local government, public policy, and the role of democratic ideals in modern society.

2026 Graduate, Syracuse University

Program: Psychology and Law, Society, & Policy

Why Gen Z Lacks Trust in Democratic Institutions: A Study of Causes, Division, and Trajectory

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Sydnee is a recent graduate of Syracuse University who triple majored in Psychology, Forensic Science, and Law, Society, & Policy. During her internship at RRI, she worked on the Rewriting Democracy project and committed to researching the democracy narratives of several countries.​ Her current research consists of a mixed-methods approach focusing on Gen-Z and the lack of trust in democratic institutions. She has engaged in campus and civic organizations focused on democracy and civil rights. Sydnee is interested in institutional reform and strengthening civic participation.

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Junior, Villanova University

Program: Political Science and Francophone Studies

Beyond the Ballot Box: Third Spaces as Infrastructure for Democratic Resilience and Institutional Trust​

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Paige Duffy is a junior at Villanova University double majoring in Political Science and French & Francophone Studies. Her work focuses on progressive economic policy, democratic participation, and the social impacts of concentrated corporate power. As a Roosevelt Network fellow and intern with Open Markets Institute, she engages with issues related to antitrust policy, financial regulation, and equitable economic reform. Paige has also completed political internships at the local and federal levels and conducted independent social science research on diversity, communication, and public engagement. She is particularly interested in how economic systems shape civic trust, community participation, and democratic institutions, and hopes to continue working at the intersection of policy research and public advocacy.​​​​​​

Senior, The Ohio State University

Program: International Relations and Diplomacy

The War on Drugs and the Rule of Law: How an Int'l Crusade Erodes Judicial and Civic Protections​

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Caleb Ferronniere is a 4th year at The Ohio State University studying International Relations and Diplomacy with a minor in Spanish.  His research interests surround U.S. drug policy internationally and the emerging geopolitical influence of China in Latin America. This fall he will begin his undergraduate thesis analyzing China’s influence in Central and South America. Previously, at RRI, he has contributed to policy briefs analyzing foreign influence and political polarization in democratic countries.​​​​​​

2026 Graduate, University of California: Los Angeles

Program: Political Science

Party Nationalization and the Representation Gap in Rural America​

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Madison Jongewaard recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is the co-author and primary data analyst of Democracy at the Crossroads, an RRI policy report aimed at understanding the dynamics of youth civic disengagement and avenues for democratic reform. She plans to pursue a P.h.D in Political Science following her time at RRI. 

 

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Sophomore, Cornell University

Program: Government and Information Science

Media Propaganda: How the Media Shapes Public Perceptions of Demographic Groups ​

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Marianna is a sophomore at Cornell University majoring in Government and Information Science. She has interned as a Data Capacity Fellow for SEIU contributing to efforts of inclusive and effective canvassing. During her internship at RRI she worked on The Great Realignment Project, authoring a chapter that investigates the historical and modern ideologies held by the Hispanic electorate. Born in Venezuela, she is passionate about minority advocacy and inclusive policy.​​​​​​​​

Junior, Florida State University

Program: Political Science & Economics

Project To Be Announced​​​

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​Varun is a third-year student at Florida State University pursuing a dual degree in Political Science and Economics with a U.S. Intelligence Certificate. His research experience spans juvenile recidivism, Mexican judicial reforms, civic engagement, tech policy, and foreign policy across the West and Indo-Pacific. His Honors in the Major thesis examines artificial intelligence governance in national security under great-power competition. Alongside this academic research, Varun is developing tools to evaluate ethical interoperability and security through AI predominance. Ultimately, he aims to shape policy at the intersection of national security, emerging technologies, and civil liberties.

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Graduate Student, Sciences Po Paris / LSE

Program: International Governance and Diplomacy

Protecting Cultural Heritage in Peacetime​

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Valentina Scassiano is a dual-degree Master's student in International Governance and Diplomacy at Sciences Po Paris and International Political Economy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She holds a Bachelor's degree in Politics and Government from Sciences Po Paris, where she also completed an exchange year at The GW Elliott School of International Affairs. Her research interests span international political economy, global governance, and comparative public policy. She is especially interested in the role of cultural heritage as a public good and in how its protection contributes to democratic governance and social cohesion. More broadly, her work explores how international organizations and public institutions respond to contemporary global challenges, including economic governance, corruption, and the preservation of shared cultural identity.