Melanie Phillips (née Thompson)
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.
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).