Hire a Ph.D.
Hire a Ph.D.
Our scholars represent a wide range of specializations, from international relations and comparative politics to political theory, public policy, and American politics. Explore their profiles to learn more about their research interests, teaching experience, and the unique perspectives they bring to the study and practice of political science.
Enes Aksu
İbrahim Enes Aksu (PhD 2026) specializes in comparative politics, political theory and Middle East politics. His research examines how populist leaders transform national-security institutions, political discourse and democratic governance, with a particular focus on Turkey. His dissertation explores the relationship between populism and the national security state through studies of Erdoğan’s presidency. His broader research interests include democratic backsliding, Islamist politics, civil–military relations, securitization and comparative approaches to populism. Alongside his research, Aksu has extensive teaching experience in American politics, comparative politics and international relations. He has served as an instructor of record and teaching assistant at the University of Delaware and has supported international academic programs for scholars participating in the U.S. Department of State’s Study of the U.S. Institutes program.
Kathrin Reed
Kathrin Reed (PhD 2024) is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at Haverford College, where she teaches courses in international relations and international political economy. She specializes in the international relations and comparative politics of East and Southeast Asia. Her research examines how small states manage contentious security issues in asymmetric relationships and multilateral forums. In her book project, she develops a framework of relational management to explain how small states maintain regular interactions, negotiate agreements, and contain disruptions in bilateral relationships. The project draws on yearlong fieldwork in Cambodia on the management of border disputes with Thailand and Vietnam, supported by the Fulbright Program and the Center for Khmer Studies.
Heon Lee
Hello. I am Heon Lee, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Delaware studying public opinion and political economy. My research broadly asks how the deep structures of the economy, institutions, and history shape the way individuals understand and experience democracy. In my dissertation, I examine how work precarity influences American workers’ democratic attitudes. Focusing on alternative work arrangements and undemocratic workplaces, my dissertation investigates how anti-establishment orientations (i.e., populist and conspiratorial views) can be developed in socio-economic contexts marked by the erosion of labor’s share and voice. In addition, I am working on a project on the democratic implications of memory politics in South Korea. By examining the divisive memories of the Gwangju Uprising, the project shows how recollections of past state violence and democratization shape whether citizens justify or resist democratic backsliding. Alongside my research, I have developed strong teaching expertise in political methodology and American politics.
