Welcome! I am a PhD Candidate in Political Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. My research focuses on the Comparative Politics of the Middle East, with a particular interest in political economy, governance reform, and public sector activism.

I am passionate about mixed-methods research. I have experience conducting surveys and field experiments in Egypt and Iraq, and make extensive use of interviews and social media data in my research. At MIT, I am affiliated with GOV/LAB and the Global Diversity Lab.

Before beginning my PhD, I worked for several years as a journalist, researcher, and analyst focused on governance, humanitarian aid, and the wartime economy in Syria. I also completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Jordan and graduated with a BA from Hamilton College and an MA from Johns Hopkins SAIS, where I received the Christian A. Herter Award for Academic Excellence.

Though my given name is Elizabeth, most people call me “Biff,” a name that translates exceptionally poorly out of English. You can call me whichever name you’d prefer.

You can download my CV here.