2024-2025 Student Research Team

Tejas Balaji

Research Supervisor

Tejas Balaji joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2022 and currently serves as a Research Supervisor for the American Political Violence (APV) team. He is a BA/MA candidate for the University of Chicago's Committee on International Relations (CIR) program. Outside of CPOST, Tejas teaches English and enjoys learning languages. He intends to graduate in the spring of 2025. 

Joe Beadman

Research Supervisor

Joe Beadman is an incoming BA/MA candidate with the Committee on International Relations (CIR) at the University of Chicago, writing about political violence in the United Kingdom. He joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2023. Joe is a political speech and autobiography enthusiast, fostering his interest in politics through Barack Obama's 2004 DNC speech.

Nava Crispe

Research Supervisor

Nava Crispe is a fourth-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago studying Political Science. She joined CPOST in Summer 2023 and currently serves as a Student Research Supervisor for the Database on Suicide Attacks (DSAT). She speaks both English and Hebrew, and will be graduating in 2025.

Will Fitz

Research Team Lead

Will Fitz joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in Summer 2023. He now serves as the Team Lead of CPOST's coordinated research efforts with the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. Will graduated from the University of Vermont in 2018 with a BA in European Studies and will begin the University of Chicago's Master's of Arts Program in the Social Sciences in 2024. He recently lived in former East Germany for three years to research far right extremism and had a unique opportunity to study the use of US-Confederate symbolism among the German far right.

Zachary Leffel

Research Supervisor

Zachary Leffel is a graduate student at the University of Chicago pursing an MA with the Committee on International Relations with a focus on institutional diplomacy. He joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the summer of 2023 and currently serves as a Student Research Supervisor for the American Political Violence project. Zachary also participates in athletics as a varsity cross country runner at the college.

Jay Ahn

Research Assistant

Jay Ahn is a second year undergraduate at the University of Chicago planning to study business economics and political science. He joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2024. Jay enjoys spending time with friends and going out to eat in downtown Chicago. He intends to graduate in the spring of 2027. 

Lena Bolotin

Research Assistant

Lena Bolotin is a second-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago planning to study Political Science and Global Studies. She joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2024. Outside of academics, Lena enjoys singing, running, and working as a barista. 

Gabriel Chalker

Research Assistant

Gabriel Chalker is a fourth-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago majoring in Political Science with a minor in East Asian Languages and Civilizations. He joined CPOST as a research assistant in the summer of 2024. In his free time, Gabriel enjoys learning new languages and playing ultimate frisbee. He intends to graduate in the spring of 2025.

Kieran Dias-Lalcaca

Research Assistant

Kieran is a third-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago studying Economics and Statistics with a focus in Political Economy. He joined CPOST as a Research Assistant at the end of 2023. Kieran is an avid traveler, competitive fencer, seasoned sailor and outdoorsman. He intends to graduate in the spring of 2026.

Leonardo Giorgini

Research Assistant

Leonardo is a third-year undergraduate student at the College, majoring in History and minoring in Spanish. He joined CPOST in the winter of 2024. When he is not studying or working, he enjoys taking long walks and runs, reading, and improving his Italian and Spanish skills. He intends to graduate in the spring of 2026 and make a career in law.

Yasmin Hashem

Research Assistant

Yasmin Hashem is a rising BA/MA student at the University of Chicago studying Political Science. She joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2023.Yasmin is a native Arabic speaker and her research interests include international relations, conflict resolution, peace-building and the WPS agenda. She intends to graduate in the spring of 2025.

Riley Hocker

Research Assistant

Riley Hocker is a second year undergraduate at the University of Chicago planning to study Political Science with a minor in Environment, Geography, and Urbanization (CEGU). She joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the autumn of 2024. She loves to surf, travel, and embroider, and she is currently studying Spanish. She intends to graduate in the spring of 2027.

Nora Holmes

Research Assistant

Nora Holmes is a third year undergraduate at the University of Chicago double majoring History and Law, Letters, and Society. She also competes on the University's Cross Country and Track teams. She joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2024, and has previously worked as a Public Policy Research Intern for the Cook County Sheriff's Office. In her spare time she enjoys reading, drawing, visiting art museums, and hiking. 

Brendan Jones

Research Assistant

Brenden Jones is a second-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago majoring in Economics. He joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2024. A former Team Leader in the U.S. Army Infantry, he now serves as President of the Veteran Scholar Association (VSA) at UChicago. In his free time, Brenden enjoys exploring his passion for American football, health and fitness, and outdoor activities. He intends to graduate in the spring of 2026.

Zjahna Lamberti

Research Assistant

Zjahna Lamberti is a second year undergraduate at the University of Chicago studying Cognitive Science and Economics. She joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the spring of 2024. Zjahna enjoys traveling, participating in W+ at the IOP, playing piano, and she is currently studying Ukrainian and French. She intends to graduate in the spring of 2027.

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Taryn Murphy

Research Assistant

Taryn is a second year undergraduate at the University of Chicago planning to study Political Science and Economics with a minor in Japanese Language. She joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2023, and is passionate about international affairs and security studies.Taryn intends to graduate in the spring of 2027.

Sebastian Morris

Research Assistant

Sebastian Morris is a third year undergraduate at the University of Chicago pursuing a major in History and Global Studies. He joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2024. Outside of classes, Sebastian loves to travel, play soccer on the college club team, try new restaurants, and listen to electronic and hip hop music. Sebastian intends to graduate in the spring of 2026. 

Seth Poling

Research Assistant

Seth is a third-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago studying Political Science. He joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the Winter of 2024. Seth is enjoys running on the lake front and is a USAF veteran. He intends to graduate in spring 2026 through the joint BA/MA program at CIR.

Adelaide Tranel

Research Assistant

Adelaide Tranel is a second year undergraduate at the University of Chicago studying Political Science and Comparative Human Development with a minor in Visual Arts. She joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2024. Adelaide loves to play soccer, run, thrift, and paint. She plans to graduate in the spring of 2027.

Matthew Tsui

Research Assistant

Matt is a third year undergraduate at the University of Chicago studying Economics and minoring in Astronomy and Astrophysics. He joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2024. Matt likes to play basketball, run, swim, and play and listen to music at all kinds of places across Chicago.

Juan Ulloa

Research Assistant

Juan Ulloa is a first-year Master of Public Policy (MPP) student at the University of Chicago. He joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the summer of 2024. Juan earned a BA in Economics from the University of Chicago in the spring of 2024 and intends to graduate with his MPP in the spring of 2025.

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Virginia Wright

Research Assistant

Virginia is a fourth year student at the University of Chicago in the BA/MA dual degree track. She will graduate in June 2025 with her BA in Political Science and her MA in the Committee on International Relations. Her thesis research is surrounding international humanitarian law relating to asylum and visa applications in the Americas. Virginia is also active in all of the Model United Nations RSOs on campus and the University Wind Ensemble playing the flute and piccolo. 

Helen Wu

Research Assistant

Helen is a fourth year undergraduate at the University of Chicago studying Economics and Political Science pursuing a joint Masters in International Relations. She joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2024. In her free time, Helen enjoys reading, painting, and reviewing new foods. She intends to graduate in the spring of 2025.

Alexandra Zak

Research Assistant

Alexandra is a first year undergraduate student at the University of Chicago planning to study Political Science and Economics with a minor in Data Science. She joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the summer of 2024. In her free time, Alexandra enjoys spending time outdoors, playing guitar, and exploring new places, and she intends to graduate in the spring of 2027. 

Wenxin Zou

Research Assistant

Wenxin is a second-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago, originally from Shanghai, with plans to major in History and Economics. She joined CPOST as a Research Assistant in the fall of 2024. Wenxin enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, improving her Italian, and traveling in her free time. She intends to graduate in the spring of 2027.