Sierra Davis Thomander is a PhD candidate in political science at Stanford University, specializing in comparative politics, American politics, and political methodology. Her research interests include gender and politics, political socialization, voting behavior, and right-wing ideology. She has published articles and working papers on these topics and has presented her work at numerous conferences. Thomander received her BA from Brigham Young University and is currently a graduate fellow at the IRiSS Center for American Democracy at Stanford.

1. SIERRA DAVIS THOMANDER
407 Encina Hall West
Stanford, CA
sierrad@stanford.edu
(385) 277-1355
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Gender and politics; Political socialization; Voting behavior; Experimental and survey
methodology; Right-wing ideology and conspiratorial thinking; American political behavior;
Representation and candidacy
EDUCATION
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Political Science, expected 2026
1st
Field: Comparative Politics
2nd
Field: American Politics
3rd
Field: Political Methodology
Master of Arts (MA), Political Science, March 2022
1st
Field: Comparative Politics
2nd
Field: American Politics
3rd
Field: Political Methodology
Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Bachelor of Arts (BA), April 2017, cum laude
Major: Political Science, Global Development Track
Minor: Africana Studies
PROFESSIONAL/WORK EXPERIENCE
Stanford University, Teaching Assistant to Dr. Jon Krosnick, Psychology of the Communication
of Politics in America, Jan. 2022 – Mar. 2022
Stanford University, IRiSS Center for American Democracy Graduate Fellow, Jan. 2020 -
Present
Brigham Young University, Research Assistant to Dr. Jessica Preece, Jan. 2019 – Sep. 2019
Qualtrics, Senior Research/Survey Design Specialist, Aug. 2018 – Aug. 2020

2. Qualtrics, Research Services Project Manager, Jan. 2018 – Aug. 2018
Brigham Young University, Game Theory in Political Science Teaching Assistant, Jan. 2016 -
May 2017
Brigham Young University, Statistical Analysis Teaching Assistant, Jan. 2015 – Apr. 2015
SIGMA Journal of Political and International Studies, Managing Editor, Sep. 2015 – Apr. 2017
SIGMA Journal of Political and International Studies, Primary Editor, Sep. 2014 – Apr. 2015
Brigham Young University, Political Inquiry Teaching Assistant, Jun. 2014 – Apr. 2016
Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, Public Policy Committee Intern, Nov. 2013 – April 2014
PUBLICATIONS
Thomander, Sierra Davis, and Andrea Malji. 2022. “Strategies for Addressing Implicit Bias,
Harassment, Assault: Concerns for Religious Minorities.” In Strategies for Navigating
Graduate School and Beyond. American Political Science Association Publication.
Forthcoming.
Thomander, Sierra Davis. 2017. “Ugandan Women’s Perceptions of Significant Women’s Issues
and Women’s Representatives’ Effectiveness.” Journal of Inquiry: Student Cross-
Cultural Field Research 10, (Fall): 31-44.
WORKING PAPERS
“What drives support for QAnon? Evidence from a survey experiment.” With Jack Thompson.
“The Masculine/Feminine Double Bind: A Survey Experiment of Gendered Elections.”
“Effects of HDI on the Effective Number of Political Parties: Proportional Representation and
Single Member Districts.”
PRESENTATIONS
BYU LDS Scholars Conference (Invited presentation), “The Masculine/Feminine Double Bind:
A Survey Experiment of Gendered Elections.” 2022.
Midwest Political Science Association Conference (Junior Scholar Symposium participant),
“The Elephant (Or Donkey) in the Bedroom: Political Influence Between Spouses.” 2022.

3. Southern Political Science Association Conference (Paper presentation), “What Drives Support
for QAnon? Evidence from a Survey Experiment.” With Jack Thompson. 2022.
American Political Science Association Conference (Paper presentation), “The
Masculine/Feminine Double Bind: A Survey Experiment of Gendered Elections.” 2021.
Recipient of APSA Elections, Public Opinion, and Voting Behavior Section John
Sullivan Award for best paper by a graduate student at the previous APSA Annual
Meeting, 2022.
Harvard Experimental Political Science Conference (Online paper presentation), “The
Masculine/Feminine Double Bind: A Survey Experiment of Gendered Elections.” 2021.
Midwest Political Science Association Conference (Online paper presentation), “The
Masculine/Feminine Double Bind: A Survey Experiment of Gendered Elections.” 2021.
Midwest Political Science Association Conference (ePanel presentation), “The Double Bind and
External Validity: A Survey Experiment in Gendered Election Settings.” 2019.
BYU Civic Engagement Research Conference (Invited presentation), “The Corn-ography Crisis:
American Corn Subsidies as a Barrier to Health and Wealth Development.” 2017.
BYU Mary Lou Fulton Mentored Learning Conference (Poster), “The Corn-ography Crisis:
American Corn Subsidies as a Barrier to Health and Wealth Development.” 2017.
Recipient of Second Place Poster Award, Civic Engagement, 2017.
BYU Kennedy Center 18th
Annual Inquiry Conference, Governance and Development in
Modern Africa (Paper presentation), Ugandan Women’s Perceptions of Significant Women’s
Issues and Women’s Representatives’ Effectiveness.” 2015.
Recipient of Overall First Place Paper Award, 2015.
BYU Mary Lou Fulton Mentored Learning Conference (Poster), “Clinton and Obama: From
Combatants to Colleagues: Signaling Strategies in the 2008 Post-Primary Cabinet
Appointments.” 2015.
GRANTS, HONORS, AND AWARDS
Center for American Democracy at IRiSS, Survey Experiment Small Grant, 2021. $2,000.
Stanford University Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS), Survey Experiment
Grant, 2021. $1,500.
Center for American Democracy at IRiSS, Survey Experiment Small Grant, 2020. $2,000.
BYU Political Science Salutatorian, April 2017
Second Place for Best Poster in Civic Engagement, Fulton Mentored Learning Conference
(BYU), 2017.

4. First Place for Best Paper/Presentation, BYU Kennedy Center 18th
Annual Inquiry Conference,
2015.
Stan Taylor Endowment Fund Scholarship. Head POLI 200 Teaching Assistant, 2015. $1,000.
Brigham Young University College of Family, Home, and Social Science, Research/Travel
Grant, 2015. $2,000. Mentored Field Research Study Abroad in Rwanda/Uganda.
Brigham Young University David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies, Travel Grant,
2015. $1,000. Mentored Field Research Study Abroad in Rwanda/Uganda.
SERVICE
Stanford University, LDS Student Association Vice President, July 2021-June 2022.s
Stanford University, Political Science Graduate Student Association Social Co-Chair, August
2021-June 2022.
Global Association of Economics Education, GAEE Seoul Policy Making Program Mentor,
March 2021-June 2021.
PROFESSIONAL/RESEARCH SKILLS
Statistical Programs: R, SPSS, Qualtrics, LaTeX, Python (beginning)
Research & Design: Data collection and analysis; project management; data visualization;
survey design; Qualtrics Research Core Expert Certification
MEMBERSHIPS / AFFILIATIONS
Southern Political Science Association (SPSA)
American Political Science Association (APSA)
Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA)
Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society