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 examines how women’s political representation in African countries is shaped by the intersection between the rules governing candidate selection and the norms associated with gendered family roles.  I have conducted multiple rounds of fieldwork in Zambia. 

You can pre-order a copy of my edited volume, Women and Power in Africa Aspiring, Campaigning, and Governing,  with Martha Johnson and Leonardo Arriola here.

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 Research Council of Norway, 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. In addition to my job market paper,  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.