Who We Are
We are a group of student lab assistants and researchers who engage in nonpartisan, publicly engaged political science and data science research lab. Students complete data science and analysis within a non-partisan research setting. Student researchers work with Dr. LaPira, a nationally recognized researcher and professor, to make evidence-based recommendations for institutional innovation and modernization.
“I have tried to develop a career with one foot in academia and one foot in Washington’s good government community. I hope my student colleagues can take what they learn in the lab and apply it to their own public service careers.”
-Lab Director, Tim LaPira
What We Do
The lab collaborates with internal and external experts in the national political reform community. Lab assistants work on a variety of projects that address significant institutional problems like democratic backsliding, and unequal political influence. Through coding assignments, congressional staff directory archiving, and political research, the lab aims to produce original, evidence-based research on institutional political reform.