I am a PhD researcher in Mass Communications at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with a doctoral minor in Quantitative Methods. My research examines the legitimacy of scientific authority in democratic societies and the political and social forces that shape public acceptance of, or challenges to, scientific expertise. 

I am particularly interested in how scientific authority is negotiated, challenged, and maintained in contemporary democracies and why some individuals and groups view scientific authority as more legitimate than others. To answer these questions, I study science populism, anti-intellectualism, "Do Your Own Research" (DYOR) mindset, public trust and mistrust in science, affective polarization, and the roles of social status, cultural values, and political identities in shaping the legitimacy of scientific expertise. 

By integrating theories from science communication, political communication, and political psychology, I seek to better understand why scientific expertise is increasingly challenged in public life. Methodologically, I specialize in quantitative social science research, including survey research, psychometric scale development, structural equation modeling, latent variable analysis, and causal inference. I am particularly interested in developing rigorous measurement instruments that advance the study of complex social and political phenomena. 

Much of my current research is conducted through collaborative projects examining the political, social, and ideological dimensions of science. I have been fortunate to contribute to research supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Kavli Foundation, and the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. 

My broader goal is to produce research that strengthens evidence-based public discourse while advancing theory at the intersection of science, politics, and media. My long-term goal is to pursue a faculty career where I can continue advancing this research while mentoring the next generation of scholars.