Welcome!

My name is Melanie L. Phillips and I am  currently a PhD Candidate at the Charles and Louise Travers Political Science department at the University of California, Berkeley.

My research agenda focuses on the intra-party dynamics of candidate selection in new democracies where political parties control selection. Specifically, I am interested in how the role and preferences of gatekeepers affect women's candidacy in sub-Saharan Africa.  I have conducted multiple rounds of fieldwork in Zambia. 

I hold a Masters in Political Science from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts in  International Studies; Political Science with distinction from the University of California, San Diego. I was also a McNair Scholar at UC San Diego.

My work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Institute of International Studies (Uc Berkeley), and the African Studies Center (Uc Berkeley).

On this website, you can download a copy of my CV. You can read find a detailed summary of my book project, including a breakdown of the individual chapters. I have included copies of my published works and working papers, along with descriptions of my larger research collaborations. Additionally, you can find a list of my teaching experience, including syllabi and evaluations.