Niranjan Shankar Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Niranjan is a rising sophomore at Princeton majoring in Computer Science and possibly minoring in International Affairs. He joined CPOST in the summer of 2017 as a member of the Data Team, where he updates the SAD for attacks in South Asia. He is also involved in setting up the new TIM database, which keeps track of all travel restrictions between countries. He expects to graduate in Spring of 2020

Paul Bartel Graduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Paul Bartel is a research assistant at CPOST and an M.A. candidate at University of Chicago focusing on International Security. He completed his undergraduate education at Loyola University Chicago, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Classical Studies. Prior to his educational pursuits, Paul completed three combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as a US Marine Infantryman. Paul joined CPOST in June 2017 and is helping to identify patterns among Americans indicted for ISIS-related offenses as a member of the Minerva Team. He expects to graduate from University of Chicago in August 2017.

Beverly Lau Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Beverly Lau is a data analyst fellow at CPOST. She assists with managing the collection, organization, and analysis of data for the Suicide Attack Database. She is majoring in Public Policy and expects to graduate from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2018.

Emma Smith Researcher/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Emma Smith is a rising senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, IL. She joined CPOST in the summer of 2017 as a member of CPOST's data team and helps maintain the Suicide Attack Database. Emma's academic interests include international relations, human rights, and international policy.

Claire Lin Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Claire Lin is a research assistant and intern at CPOST. She has contributed to development of the Suicide Attack Database with a focus on collecting data for suicide attacks that have occurred in Nigeria. Claire expects to graduate from the University of Chicago with a double-major in Public Policy and Comparative Human Development in the spring of 2019.

Michael Murray Researcher/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Michael Murray is a research and data assistant currently helping with the Suicide Attack Database. This is Michael's first-year with CPOST, and he expects to graduate from Jones College Prep in the spring of 2018.

Ilgi Cesur Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Ilgi Cesur is a third year at UChicago studying Economics and Sociology. She is also an international student from Istanbul, Turkey. In  the summer of her second year, she joined CPOST as a Research/Data Assistant and helps update the Suicide Attack Database. On campus, she is involved with the Chicago Journal of Sociology, which is an undergraduate social science journal. Ilgi expects to graduate in 2019.

Ori Brian Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Ori Brian is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Chicago, studying Statistics and Economics. He joined CPOST in the summer of 2017 as part of the Data Team and helps to maintain the Suicide Attack Database. Ori expects to graduate in the spring of 2019.

Madeleine Beckner Undergraduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Madeleine Beckner is a research assistant at CPOST where she works with the Minerva Initiative Indictment Team, examining information on individuals indicted for ISIS-related offenses in the US. Madeleine is a rising third year at the University of Chicago majoring in Statistics, and she expects to graduate in Spring 2019.

Ethan Walshe Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Ethan Walshe is a rising fourth year at the University of Chicago majoring in Economics. He joined CPOST in June 2017 as a member of the data team for the Suicide Attack Database. He plans to graduate in June 2018.

Pierre Mougel Graduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Pierre Mougel is a research assistant at CPOST and a second year master student at Sciences Po university in Paris, where he majors in Security Studies and has a minor in Russian and Intelligence Studies. He joined the Minerva team at CPOST in June 2017 to work on narrative analysis of ISIS propaganda and recruitment videos.

Audrey Fritz Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Audrey is a research assistant at CPOST and a rising third-year undergraduate student at the University of Chicago. She is pursuing a double major in Public Policy and East Asian Languages and Civilizations. Audrey joined CPOST in the summer of 2017 as a member of the Data Team, where she helps to maintain the Suicide Attack Database. She expects to graduate in the spring of 2019.

Elsy Gonzalez Graduate Researcher - O.N.R. Initiative

Elsy Gonzalez is a Graduate Research Assistant for the Office of Naval Research project and a PhD student in Political Science at the University of Chicago. Her research at CPOST assesses U.S. military strategies against militant groups in the Middle East. She speaks Spanish and French and received her undergraduate degree in Political Science and International relations from the Center for Research and Teachings in the Social Sciences (CIDE) in Mexico City. Her MA research focuses on the international recognition of statehood of secessionist groups and how it sets foreign policy precedents for future cases.

Daniel Mines Undergraduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Daniel Mines is a rising second year at the College of William and Mary and is pursuing a major in International Relations. He joined CPOST in the summer of 2017 as a member of the Minerva team, working to analyze ISIS propaganda videos. Daniel expects to graduate in the spring of 2020.

Salman Ameri Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Sean Morrissey Undergraduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Sean Morrissey is a research assistant at CPOST. Since joining CPOST in June 2017, he has contributed to the Minerva project's research on the propaganda strategies of AQAP. He graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelors degree in Political Science and a Masters degree in International Relations in the Spring of 2017.

Dina Abdalla Undergraduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Dina Abdalla is a fourth year undergraduate student at DePaul University majoring in International Studies with a concentration in Middle East Policy and Economic Development and a minor in Geography. This summer at CPOST she will be working on the Minerva Martyr project which collects and analyzes videos from militant groups. She speaks Arabic and is currently learning Turkish.

Christian Crews Undergraduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Christian is a research assistant at CPOST and a Master’s student at the University of Chicago. He studies International Relations, specializing in International Security and Civil Conflict. As a CPOST researcher, Christian examines militant use of propaganda, focusing particularly on ISIS media campaigns.

Kathrine Anderson Undergraduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Katie is a rising third-year at the University of Chicago and is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Public Policy. She joined CPOST in the Summer of 2016 as a member of the Data Team, helping to maintain the Suicide Attack Database. Katie expects to graduate in the Spring of 2018.

Elyse Hain Undergraduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Elyse Hain is a research assistant at CPOST and an undergraduate at Tufts University in Boston. She will be entering her third year in the fall of 2016, pursuing a B.A. in Economics and Political Science with a regional concentration in Eastern Europe. Elyse joined CPOST in the summer of 2016, where she works with the Propaganda team to develop reports on the media and propaganda used by ISIS. Outside of CPOST, Elyse is involved in Tufts Democrats, Tufts Financial Group, and the Intramural Tennis Society at Tufts. She expects to graduate in the spring of 2018.

Edwin Gavis Undergraduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Edwin Gavis is a second year undergraduate at the University of Chicago. He is majoring in Political Science and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations focusing on Modern Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic. He joined CPOST in the fall of 2016 as a member of the Minerva team. On campus, he is involved in intermural sports and technical theater. He expects to graduate from the University of Chicago in spring of 2019. 

Jens Jessen Undergraduate Research Associate

Jens is an undergraduate research associate at CPOST and graduated from the University of Chicago with a major in Economics and Statistics. He joined the Minerva Initiative Indictment Team in summer 2016, which aims to produce a formal report on the demographics of individuals indicted in the United States for suspected connections to ISIS. 

Piper Mik Undergraduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Piper Mik is a research assistant at CPOST and an undergraduate at the University of Chicago.  She is a rising second year who joined CPOST in Summer 2016.  Piper works on the Minerva Initiative Indictment Team, helping to produce a report on the demographics of ISIS inductees in the US.  Outside of CPOST, Piper is on the Varsity Women’s Soccer Team and a member of Delta Gamma.  She plans to graduate from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2019.

Samuel Miller Graduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Samuel Miller is a second-year M.A. candidate at the University of Chicago, where his studies focus on Islam and international human rights law.  He completed his undergraduate education at Emory University with a B.A. in religion and plans to matriculate into a joint J.D. / Ph.D. program in political theory.  Samuel joined CPOST in September 2016 and is a member of the Minerva team.

Abdurrahman Muhammad Undergraduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Abdurrahman Muhammad was a research associate at CPOST and undergraduate at the University of Chicago. Since joining CPOST in the summer of 2015, he helped maintain the Suicide Attack Database and contributed to a case study of the battle methodology of suicide attacks in Ramadi, Iraq. Abdurrahman graduated from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2017. 

Guy Talmor Undergraduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Guy Talmor is a research assistant at CPOST and an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto. Guy is studying Political Science with a focus in International Relations and expects to graduate in the spring of 2018. Guy joined CPOST in the summer of 2016 and is currently working on the Minerva Martyr Project, studying ISIS media and propaganda. Guy is originally from Israel and speaks 3 languages (English, Hebrew, Spanish).

Sarah Star Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Minerva Initiative

Sarah Starr is a research/data assistant at CPOST and an undergraduate at The University of Chicago studying mathematics and political science. As part of CPOST’s data team, Sarah works on updating the CPOST Suicide Attack Database. She is interested in tracking suicide attacks targeting military forward operating bases in combat areas. Outside of CPOST, Sarah serves in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Platoon Leader and Public Affairs Officer. Sarah expects to graduate from the University of Chicago in spring 2017.

Tom Wood Undergraduate Researcher - Office of Naval Research Grant

Tom Wood is a research /data assistant at CPOST and a third year undergraduate at the University of Chicago. He is pursuing a Political Science major and Human Rights minor in the college. He joined CPOST in the spring of 2015 and helps maintain the Suicide Attack Database. Outside of CPOST Tom is the World Editor and an Editorial Board member of the undergraduate political review. He expects to graduate from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2016.

Asya Akca Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Asya Akca is studying Political Science and Human Rights as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. Originally from Istanbul, she is fluent in Turkish. Since joining CPOST in the fall of 2015, she works to update the Suicide Attack Database. On campus, she is heavily involved at the the Institute of Politics and passionate about women's issues. She expects to graduate from the University of Chicago in spring of 2018.

Stephanie Emerson Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Stephanie Emerson is a research / data assistant at CPOST and a student at the University of Chicago. She is participating in a joint B.A./M.A. program which will allow her to earn both a B.A. in Political Science and M.A. in International Relations in 2017. Stephanie is interested in international security issues and has worked at the State Department and International Center for Terrorism Studies in the past. On campus, she also serves as the president of the URock Climbing Club.

Jaiveer Mariwala Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Jaiveer Mariwala is a research/data assistant at CPOST, and a graduate of the University of Chicago. As an undergraduate, Jaiveer pursued a BA in political science and a minor in Germanic studies. He is also an international student from Mumbai, India. He joined CPOST in the summer of 2016 as a member of CPOST’s data team, and helps verify and update the Suicide Attack Database.

Will Cohen Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Will is a research and data assistant at CPOST and a first year undergraduate at the University of Chicago. He is majoring in Biology. Will joined CPOST in the Fall of 2016 as a member of CPOST’s data team, and helps maintain the Suicide Attack Database. He is also involved in Model United Nations and College Republicans, and writes articles focusing on the United States military for The Gate.

Zachary Montgomery Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Zachary Montgomery is a research assistant at CPOST and an undergraduate at Indiana University (IU), where he is pursuing a B.S. in Policy Analysis with a certificate in applied research. He joined CPOST in the summer of 2016 as a member of CPOST’s data team, and helps update the Suicide Attack Database. His policy interests are in international security and geopolitics, particularly international migration. At IU, he is involved with Model United Nations, for which he serves as IUMUN’s Under-Secretary General of Crisis. He expects to graduate in 2017.

Ayling Dominguez Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Ayling is a second year undergraduate student at the University of Chicago, where she studies Global Studies and Human Rights and plans to graduate in the spring of 2019. She joined CPOST in the winter of 2017 as a member of CPOST’s data team, and helps maintain the Suicide Attack Database. Other academic interests include international relations, political affairs, and law. On campus, she is involved with the Organization of Latin American Students, the Partnership for the Advancement of Refugee Rights, and the Institute of Politics.

Ariana Iranpour Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Ariana Iranpour is a Data Intern and second year undergraduate studying Political Science at the University of Chicago. She joined CPOST in the fall of 2015 and helps to update the Suicide Attack Database. She hopes to graduate in the spring of 2018.

Michael Ferguson Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Michael Ferguson is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Chicago, studying Public Policy and Spanish.  He joined CPOST in the winter of 2017 as a member of CPOST’s data team, and helps maintain the Suicide Attack Database. Academic interests include international relations, human rights, peace studies, and humanitarian intervention policy.  On campus, he is involved with the Institute of Politics and the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.  He plans to graduate in the spring of 2019.

Michael Frankiewicz Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Michael is a research and data assistant at CPOST and a third year undergraduate student at the University of Chicago where he is majoring in Political Science. He joined CPOST in the summer of 2016 as a member of CPOST’s data team, and helps maintain the Suicide Attack Database. Other academic interest include international relations, law and finance.

Charles Scherer Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Charles is a research assistant at CPOST and a graduate from the University of Chicago with a degree in Public Policy. Since joining CPOST during the summer of 2016, he has worked to contribute to and maintain the CPOST Suicide Attack Database. Charles primarily works to research reported suicide attacks and certify their veracity.

Eileen Lee Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Eileen is a third year undergraduate at the University of Chicago studying Economics and Political Science . Since joining CPOST in the fall of 2016, she has worked on the data team helping to update the Suicide Attack Database. On campus, she is involved with the student newspaper, the Chicago Maroon, and the Institute of Politics. She expects to graduate in the spring of 2018.

Morgan Venkus Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Morgan Venkus is a research assistant at CPOST and an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. He is pursuing a degree in political science with a minor in statistics. At CPOST, he works at updating the Suicide Attack Database.

Felicia Woron Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Felicia was a data and research assistant at CPOST and graduated from the University of Chicago with a major in Political Science and Spanish in the spring of 2017. Since joining CPOST in January of 2016, she was a part of the ONR research team and helped maintain the Suicide Attack Database. In addition to CPOST, Felicia was the Marketing Manager and a writer for The Gate, UChicago’s undergraduate political review. 

Michael Matlaga Undergraduate Researcher - Minerva Initiative

Michael is a research assistant at CPOST and an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. As an undergraduate, Michael is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy with a specialization in International Security Policy. Since joining CPOST as an intern in the spring of 2015, he has contributed to the CPOST Suicide Attack Database and an Early Warning Model for spectacular suicide attacks. Currently, Michael is working as a research assistant on the Minerva Initiative, which seeks to develop an understanding of how extremist organizations construct cultures of martyrdom. As a research assistant, he helps organize assignments as well as conducting qualitative research himself.  Michael specializes in the “Iraqi Rebels vs. U.S. and Allies” and “Palestinian Resistance vs. Israel” campaigns. He expects to graduate from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2016.

Oliver Fornell Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Minerva Initiative

Oliver Fornell is a research/ data assistant at CPOST and an undergraduate at the University of Chicago.  As an undergraduate, Oliver is pursuing a BA in Public Policy Studies with a concentration in International Security and is a member of Off Off Campus Improv and Sketch Comedy Troupe.  As a member of the Data Team at CPOST, Oliver is working on updating and verifying data in the CPOST Suicide Attack Database, focusing on suicide attacks in Iraq during the US occupation between 2003 and 2011.  He will graduate from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2017.  

Jordan Ginsburg Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Minerva Initiative

Jordan is a research/data assistant at CPOST and an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. She is double majoring in Political Science and Comparative Human Development and is also involved in Chicago Youth Philanthropy Group, the Programming Committee of Student Government and Delta Gamma. She is currently very excited to be looking closely at the Afghanistan Taliban campaign for the Minerva Project. She hopes to graduate in the Spring of 2017. 

Hayley Thompson Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Minerva Initiative

Hayley Thompson is an undergraduate research/data assistant at CPOST, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Islamic and Modern Middle Eastern Studies. Since joining CPOST in the summer of 2015, Hayley has updated and verified attack data for CPOST's Suicide Attack Database. Hayley has a working proficiency in Spanish and Arabic, and is beginning her studies in Russian. She is interested in international security and foreign policy, with a focus on US-Iran and US-Russia relations. Outside of CPOST, Hayley is a member of the Varsity Women's soccer team, and is also the Communications Intern at the University’s News Office

Christina Peck Former CPOST Fellow

Christina Peck started as a research/data assistant at CPOST in the summer of 2014 working to update and verify the CPOST Suicide Attack Database. She completed her undergraduate degree with a BA in Political Science in the spring of 2015. As a CPOST Fellow, Christina continued her research project into the Islamic State's use of social media and how it contributes to their recruitment. She planed to complete a paper on the subject by early fall 2015.

Curtis Stone Former Fellow and Research Analyst

Curtis Stone was a Research Analyst and Fellow at CPOST. In addition to working on CPOST projects, he was using start-of-the-art spatial techniques to analyze the effect of drone strikes on militant violence in Pakistan. Curtis joined CPOST in 2014 as a Graduate Research Assistant and developed an online GIS for CPOST’s Suicide Attack Database. Prior to coming to the University, he was involved with translating the works of China’s Party and State leaders and important Central Government documents, including those of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Curtis earned his MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago in 2015. He also holds a BA in Political Science from Trinity College-Hartford, and studied Chinese at Nankai University.

Maura Cremin Graduate Research Associate

Maura Cremin is a research assistant on the Office of Naval Research project. Her research for ONR assesses threats against Western actors in ISIS propaganda. In particular, she considers how the credibility of such threats should be evaluated. Maura is pursuing her PhD in Political Science concurrently with a JD from Harvard Law School. Her research focuses on the propaganda of insurgencies, with a focus on the conflict murals of Republican and Unionist militants in Northern Ireland. Maura holds a BA in International Security Studies and an MA in International Studies from the University of Oklahoma. Her MA thesis evaluated the insurgent tactics of the Irish Republican Army and the counterinsurgent tactics of the British government in the 1919-1921 War of Independence. 

Alexandra Chinchilla Graduate Research Associate

Alexandra Chinchilla is a PhD student in International Relations at the University of Chicago. At CPOST, she researches U.S. security cooperation with partners in the Middle East and South Asia. She speaks Polish and Russian, and received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Vincent Bauer Former Research Analyst, AB '13

Vincent Bauer was a full-time Research Analyst at CPOST and was currently conducting research and analysis in support of CPOST’s major ongoing study of the targeting strategies of militant groups. His responsibilities included research, writing, and data analysis using a variety of methods, including GIS, Stata, and R. Among his many projects at CPOST, Vincent had co-authored a research paper on quantitative methods for attributing responsibility to unclaimed violent events, developed database architecture for several datasets maintained by CPOST, and trained graduate and undergraduate research assistants in quantitative analysis. He served as a lead analyst for CPOST’s eighteen-month study into the targeting logics of militant groups (2012-13), where he managed data and analysis for the project’s case studies. Vincent has a BA in Political Science and Near Eastern Languages from the University of Chicago, is proficient in Arabic and Dutch, and has traveled widely in the Middle East.

McIntyre Skarzynski Former Undergraduate Research Associate

McIntyre “Mack” Skarzynski was a research associate at CPOST and an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. As an undergraduate, Mack was pursuing a Joint Degree BA/MA in International Relations, and also a separate BA in East Asian Languages and Civilizations. Since joining CPOST in 2012, he has contributed to a major two-year study of targeting behavior by militant groups. As part of that study, he co-authored a major research report on patterns of violence in Israel and Palestine. As a member of CPOST’s data team, Mack helped organize and participates in the updating and verification of the CPOST Suicide Attack Database. He graduated from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2015.

Chris Breen Former Undergraduate Research Associate

Christopher Breen was a student supervisor at CPOST at the University of Chicago majoring in Political Science and Slavic Languages and Literatures, with a focus on the Russian language and culture. Since joining CPOST in 2012, Chris had contributed to a major-two year study of targeting behavior by militant groups. As part of that study, he co-authored a major research report on patterns of violence in the North Caucasus. He has led a team in the creation of databases on US and coalition operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in addition to a database on collaborator killings in Pakistan as a response to drone strikes. His responsibilities included updating and verifying attack data for CPOST’s Suicide Attack Database. Chris graduated from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2016.

Micah Gard Undergraduate Research Associate

Micah Gard is a student supervisor at CPOST and an Undergraduate at the University of Chicago. As an Undergraduate, Micah is seeking a B.A. in both Political Science and Public Policy. Since joining CPOST in April 2014, he has led a team in the creation of two databases on U.S. and coalition operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also a member of the data team, where his responsibilities include updating and verifying the CPOST Suicide Attack Database. Micah expects to graduate from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2016.

Patrick O'Connor Undergraduate Research Associate

Patrick O'Connor was a student supervisor at CPOST. Since joining CPOST in the summer of 2014, Patrick has worked as a researcher for the Suicide Attack Database and supervised the creation of several other data sets, including an in depth study of the Battle of Ramadi and the construction of cadre profiles for insurgent groups. As a third-year in the college, he is majoring in Chemistry and Political Science. He expects to graduate in the spring of 2017.

Johnny Lou Undergraduate Research Associate

Johnny Lou is a research associate at CPOST and an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, studying economics and political science. After joining CPOST in 2014, he helped develop new methods to improve the collection of suicide terror attack information and worked on two studies of collaborator killings in Pakistan and Yemen. Over the summer of 2015, he co-authored a research paper focusing on the strategic success of ISIS and the implications for US policy.

Andy Dutu Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Andreea Dutu is a Data Intern and fourth year undergraduate student at the University of Chicago. She is pursuing a Political Science major in the college and joined CPOST in the fall of 2015 where she helps maintain the Suicide Attack Database, with a specific focus on ISIS in Iraq. This past summer, Andreea worked as a Summer Associate for McGuireWoods Consulting, a government relations consulting firm in Bucharest, Romania. She expects to graduate from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2016.

Young -In Kim Undergraduate Research/Data Assistant - Suicide Attack Database

Young-In Kim is a Research/Data Assistant at CPOST and an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. Young-In is pursuing a BA in Political Science and International Relations, and expects to graduate in the spring of 2017. She joined CPOST in the fall of 2015 as a member of CPOST’s data team, and helps verify and update the Suicide Attack Database.

Miranda Wei Undergraduate Research Associate

Miranda Wei is a student supervisor and research associate at CPOST. Since joining CPOST in January 2015, she has contributed to op-eds in the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. Miranda also led teams on the targeting logics of the Pakistani Taliban and Al Qaeda in Iraq, and the propaganda narratives of ISIS, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and Hamas. She majored Political Science with a minor in Computer Science and graduated from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2017.

Caroline Wegner Undergraduate Research Associate

Caroline Wegner is a research/data assistant at CPOST and an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. Caroline is studying Political Science and Anthropology and expects to graduate in the fall of 2016. Caroline joined CPOST in the spring of 2015, and is currently working on martyr mining with two other interns while she contributes to updating the CPOST Suicide Attack Database. She also helps organize and advertise some of CPOST’s events on the University’s campus, and has recently become the Director of Career Development for CPOST’s affiliated RSO, the Maroon Project on Security and Terrorism (MPOST).

Kelsey Grant Undergraduate Research Associate

Kelsey Grant was a research associate and student supervisor at CPOST and an undergraduate at the University of Chicago.  She graduated with a major in International Studies with specialization in French and Arabic in the spring of 2017. Kelsey joined CPOST in the summer of 2015 as a member of CPOST's data team to work updating the Suicide Attack Database. She then went on to be one of the two leaders of the Video Team on CPOST's Minerva Initiative Project. 

Bryan Popoola Undergraduate Research Associate

Bryan Popoola was a student supervisor at CPOST and graduated with a degree in Economics and International Studies from the University of Chicago spring of 2017. He joined CPOST in the summer of 2016 as a member of the data team, and helps update the Suicide Attack Database. Outside of CPOST, Bryan was also part of on-campus think-tank EUChicago and is currently learning Portuguese and French. He now works for Paul Staniland as his Senior Research Assistant.

Luke Morell Undergraduate Research Associate

Luke Morell was a student supervisor at the Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism (CPOST). He majored in Political Science and History at the University of Chicago and graduated in the Spring of 2017. He started working at CPOST Summer of 2015 as a member of the Early Warning Project on the al-Qaeda in Iraq team, and then went on to work on the al-Shabaab in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya team for the Fall of 2015. Outside of school, Luke was also very active in his fraternity, and served as Social Chair for the Fall term.

Hamza Shad Undergraduate Research Associate

Hamza Shad was a student supervisor at CPOST. He graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Political Science and Economics spring of 2017. Fluent in Urdu and Hindi and proficient in Arabic, he focused on current affairs in South Asia and the Middle East. Since joining CPOST in 2015, he researched violence in Pakistan as part of the Early Warning Model project. Hamza was also the World News Editor for The Gate: Political Analysis & Opinions.

Walker Gunning Executive Director

Walker J. Gunning is the former executive director of CPOST. He was previously the associate editor at Al-Monitor.com. Walker is now a PhD student in the University of Chicago's department of political science. He also holds a MA and BA in Near Eastern Studies from NYU. He is a 2017 Truman National Security Project Fellow and the Chicago chapter co-director.

David Schneyer AB '11

David Schneyer joined CPOST in 2012. His primary responsibilities included major research and writing tasks with Dr. Pape, as well as overseeing media engagement projects, especially op-eds. In his time at CPOST, he coded entries for the Suicide Attack Database, assisted with the institute's rebranding effort, and co-authored an op-ed for the Boston Globe assessing the threat posed by Al Qaeda in Yemen. He has also contributed important research and editorial support to a working paper on the future of Sino-American relations, authored by Dr. Pape. David is a graduate of the University of Chicago, where he earned his BA in History and Political Science in 2011. He will enroll at the University of Pennsylvania Law School beginning in Fall 2014. 

Mashail Malik AM '13

Mohammad Abdeljalil AB '11

Mohammad worked with CPOST from 2008 to 2014. He began as an Arabic translator in his first year of undergraduate study in 2008. Among his many assignments at CPOST over the years, Mohammad has transcribed and translated videos produced by suicide terrorist groups, conducted research and analysis for the chapter on Israel-Palestine in Cutting the Fuse (2009), and co-authored a research paper on the grand strategy of off-shore balancing. After graduating from the University of Chicago with a BA in political science in 2011, Mohammad was promoted to research associate responsible for data analysis using a variety of methods, including GIS. He served as a lead analyst for CPOST’s eighteen-month study into the targeting logics of militant groups (2012-13), and authored a major research report on targeting by the Pakistani Taliban, including field research in the region.

Stephanie Kelley Predoctoral Fellow, AM '13

Stephanie Kelley is a PhD Candidate at the University of Chicago and a Predoctoral Fellow at CPOST.  She is also an active duty intelligence officer in the United States Air Force.  Her PhD dissertation examines why militaries obey or disobey orders to repress domestic contentious events.  She holds Masters degrees in International Relations (University of Chicago, 2013) and National Security Affairs (Naval Postgraduate School, 2004).  Prior to her doctoral studies Lt. Col. Kelley attended the Air Force's School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS) where she will return as faculty after completing her next operational assignment with United States Forces Korea.  She has also served with Air Force Special Operations Command, the Joint Staff, and the Defense Intelligence Agency's Joint Intelligence Task Force for Combating Terrorism.

Michael Sexton Research Associate and Data Manager, AB '13

Michael Sexton is Research Associate and Data Manager at CPOST. He is responsible for training the data team and coordinating data collection and verification for the CPOST Suicide Attack Database. Among his many assignments, he coordinated a major review of suicide attack data and updated CPOST’s collection methodology and categorization. Mike graduated in 2013 from the University of Chicago with a BA in Mathematics with a minor in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. He is conversant Arabic and Persian, can read Russian and Hebrew, and has spent time in Israel and the West Bank.

Hanfeng Liu Graduate Research Associate, MPP '15

Hanfeng Liu is a Graduate Research Associate at CPOST and is working toward his Master's in Public Policy (M.P.P) at the University of Chicago's Harris School with a concentration on policy/data analytics. Since joining CPOST in early 2014, he has researched and authored a major report titled "U.S. Position and Prescription Summary on East Asian Crises (2013-2014)." In this report, he gathered and summarized public statements on East Asian security issues made by American policymakers in the past two years, revealing both their position on a given issue and their policy prescription. Hanfeng also helped to coordinate CPOST's Capitol Hill Conference in April 2014, including drafting working papers for use during the conference. Currently, Hanfeng is CPOST's leading translator of English documents into Chinese. Prior to CPOST, Hanfeng interned as a personal assistant for China’s Vice Minister of Culture in 2011. He also served on the editorial boards for the book 50 years of brotherhood, China-Tanzania Diplomacy sponsored by The Information Office of the State Council. Hanfeng is a winner of National Scholarship for Post-graduate Study Abroad by the China Scholarship Council. Hanfeng is originally from Beijing, and graduated from Wuhan University in 2013.

Mariya Grinberg Predoctoral Fellow and Graduate Research Associate, AM '13

Mariya Grinberg is Predoctoral Fellow and Graduate Research Associate at CPOST researching the relationship between civilian targeting and suicide terrorism. She is part of the team developing the theory of militant group targeting as a part of an ongoing study into terrorism and insurgent activity. On occasion, she translates Russian sources produced by Chechen militants. Mariya is pursuing a PhD in political science from the University of Chicago, and works on international relations theory focusing on international order formation. She holds an MA from the University of Chicago’s Committee on International Relations (2013) and a BA from the University of Southern California (2011).

David Benson Predoctoral Fellow

David Benson is a Predoctoral Fellow at CPOST and a PhD Candidate at the University of Chicago. Prior to coming to the University, he served in the US Army as a linguist and an infantry officer. He served a tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006 in Salah-ad-Din province Iraq. Starting in 2007, he then worked as a counterterrorism and network analysis instructor for the US Department of Defense, with JIEDDO-COIC. He completed a Masters degree in June 2009, in International Relations. While at the University of Chicago, he has served as the Program Coordinator for the Program on International Politics, Economics and Security, the Assistant Director for the CPOST writer’s workshop and planner and coordinator for international conferences in Washington, DC and Beijing, China. His article “Why the Internet is not Increasing Terrorism” will be published in June in Security Studies, and he will defend his Dissertation this summer “The Internet Effect: How New Media Change’s Transnational Political Action in Securities Environments”

John Stevenson PhD '14

John Stevenson is a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Chicago specializing in Comparative Politics and International Relations. At CPOST, his role mostly focuses on strategic intellectual and writing development as the founding and emeritus Assistant Director for the CPOST writer’s workshop. His research theorizes human rights and non-traditional security environments characterized by violent non-state actors, weak or non-existent state institutions, and diffused costs conflict initiation and duration from third-party involvement. John will complete his PhD in June 2014, before taking a postdoctoral position at the University of Maryland - College Park . His dissertation is entitled, “Capitol Gains: How Biased Military Intervention and the Elite Quest for International Recognition Causes Mass Killing in New States.” He recently published an opinion piece in Slate magazine to explain the human rights violations in South Sudan. He earned his B.A. in Government from Dartmouth College in 2005.

Sarah Morell Undergraduate Research Associate

Sarah Morell is a Research Associate at CPOST and an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. She is pursuing a Joint Degree B.A./M.A. in International Relations, alongside a B.A. in Political Science. Since joining CPOST in 2014, Sarah has contributed to research on a renewed U.S.-China hotline, presented at CPOST’s Capitol Hill conference on managing East Asian security crises. She is currently working with the research team on the intended and unintended consequences of humanitarian intervention. She will graduate from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2015. 

Vanessa Bernick AB '12

Vanessa Bernick worked with CPOST from 2008 to 2013. She began as an undergraduate research assistant in 2008 and, over the years, contributed to a number of CPOST’s research projects. After graduating with her BA in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations with a concentration in Arabic from the University of Chicago in 2012, Vanessa assumed the dual role of full-time research associate and data manager as part of CPOST’s two-year study of the targeting behavior of militant groups. As research associate she was lead analyst and author of two major research studies, one on the Afghan Taliban, and the other on Al Qaida in Iraq. As data manager she was responsible for training the data team and coordinating data collection and verification for the CPOST Suicide Attack Database. She left CPOST in 2013 to begin a career as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

Michael Rowley Former Research Director, ONR Project

Michael Rowley was the former director of research for the ONR Project and the former Executive Director at CPOST. Michael joined CPOST in May 2013 as a Graduate Research Associate to work as a lead analyst for CPOST’s eighteen-month study into the targeting logics of militant groups (2012-13). He co-authored a major research report on targeting by the Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers (LTTE). Prior to joining CPOST, he worked as a researcher in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago, a law clerk at Durkin & Roberts, and as an intern at the Aspen Institute and New Partners, a political consulting firm in Washington, D.C. Michael holds an M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University (2012) and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame (2010) with degrees in Political Science and Arabic.

Connor Ryan AB '13

Connor Ryan worked for CPOST from the summer of 2012 through the fall of 2013. He joined as an Undergraduate Research Associate, responsible verifying attacks and adding attacks into the database. He graduated in June of 2013 with a BA in Philosophy from the University of Chicago. The following summer, as a full-time Research Associate, he co-authored a case study on the targeting logic of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a major terrorist organization. The case study, part of larger CPOST report commissioned by the Pentagon, makes use of a wide array of qualitative methods. Connor left CPOST to begin an internship at the Cato Institute, where he researched foreign and defense policy. He now interns on Capitol Hill for Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). In his spare time, he writes a blog for the Huffington Post. 

Elizabeth Jenkins Administrative Coordinator

Elizabeth Jenkins was the Administrative Coordinator at CPOST. Her primary responsibilities were to assist in the organization of conferences, media outreach, and overall office operations. Before joining CPOST she worked for Illinois State Representative Lisa Hernandez, 24th District, as a policy advisor and financial director from 2011 to 2014. During her time with the state representative she directed and executed numerous state and political events. Many of these events involved direct coordination with other organizations, including the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and MacNeal Hospital.  These major informational events addressed such issues as Illinois’ new driver’s license for undocumented residents, mortgage relief, and diabetes awareness. Elizabeth holds a B.A. in Political Science from Brigham Young University –Idaho (2009).

Ezra Schricker AB '10

Ezra Schricker worked for CPOST from 2008 to 2010. As Project Manager, Ezra oversaw several teams of Arabic translators, data collectors, and researchers working on terrorism-related projects. Ezra managed several major data collection and quality control efforts to improve CPOST’s global database of suicide attacks. Among his many projects at CPOST, Ezra was instrumental in compiling, editing, and subtitling 50 suicide martyr videos for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Ezra was also a major contributor to the Afghanistan and Pakistan chapters in Cutting the Fuse: The Explosion of Global Suicide Terrorism and How to Stop It by Robert Pape and James Feldman (University of Chicago Press: October 2010). Ezra is currently a PhD candidate in Political Science at the Ohio State University specializing in International Relations.