RESEARCH & TEACHING
I am a political scientist whose research and teaching focus on American politics, political communication, and public policy, with particular attention to youth political engagement, media framing, and civic participation. My research examines how political actors, advocacy organizations, and media environments shape political behavior, especially during moments of heightened public attention such as elections, policy debates, and social movements. Methodologically, I use survey experiments and observational data, as well as mixed methods and machine learning (e.g., NLP, text analysis), to study political attitudes and participation across different institutional and informational contexts.
My teaching is closely connected to my research agenda. I teach courses in public policy, communication, government, and research methods, emphasizing applied skills, critical evaluation of evidence, and the real-world implications of political decision-making. Drawing on my experience working with undergraduates in professional policy settings, I design courses that bridge theory and practice, helping students develop the analytical tools needed to understand political institutions, evaluate policy outcomes, and engage thoughtfully in civic life.
Select Overview
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ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Upcoming August 2026
Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship | The Politics of Education Lab
Stanford University | The Graduate School of Education
Principal Investigator: Dr. Beth Schueler
Upcoming August 2026
Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship | The Politics of Education Lab
Stanford University | The Graduate School of Education
Principal Investigator: Dr. Beth Schueler
Current 2025-2026
Assistant Adjunct Professor of Public Policy
University of California Center Sacramento (UCCS)
Publications:
Cambridge University Elements Political Communication Book Series
Boydstun, Amber E., Jill R. Laufer, Dallas Card, and Noah Smith. 2026. Catching Fire in the News: The Necessary Conditions for Media Storms. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009498432
Cambridge University Elements Political Communication Book Series
Brodeur, Abel…Laufer, Jill R., Anya Stewart and Alexa Federice…” Computational Reproducibility and Robustness of Empirical Economics and Political Science Research Between 2022 and 2023.” Nature
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10251-x
Assistant Adjunct Professor of Public Policy
University of California Center Sacramento (UCCS)
Publications:
Cambridge University Elements Political Communication Book Series
Boydstun, Amber E., Jill R. Laufer, Dallas Card, and Noah Smith. 2026. Catching Fire in the News: The Necessary Conditions for Media Storms. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009498432
Cambridge University Elements Political Communication Book Series
Brodeur, Abel…Laufer, Jill R., Anya Stewart and Alexa Federice…” Computational Reproducibility and Robustness of Empirical Economics and Political Science Research Between 2022 and 2023.” Nature
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10251-x
Under peer review:
Laufer, Jill R. and Alice Malmberg. “This Time is Different: Evaluating the Effect of the 2018 March for Our Lives Voter Mobilization Campaign on Youth Voting and Registration Rates.” Nature Journals: Humanities and Social Sciences Communications – Special Youth Activism Collection
Laufer, Jill R. and Alice Malmberg. “This Time is Different: Evaluating the Effect of the 2018 March for Our Lives Voter Mobilization Campaign on Youth Voting and Registration Rates.” Nature Journals: Humanities and Social Sciences Communications – Special Youth Activism Collection
Laufer, Jill R. 2025. “Signaling Youth, Missing the Mark? Social Media Advocacy and Political Engagement in Young Americans during the 2024 Election.” Political Behavior (currently under peer review)
Media Frames Tableau Data Visualizations
SSRC/Media Well - Measuring Media Accuracy - Frames as Information
Policy Paper:
Simon, Amy, John Whaley, Yule Kim, Nicole Fossier, and Jill R. Laufer. 12/2023. “CalAIM Experiences: Implementer Views After 18 Months of Reforms.” California Health Care Foundation.
Simon, Amy, John Whaley, Yule Kim, Nicole Fossier, and Jill R. Laufer. 12/2023. “CalAIM Experiences: Implementer Views After 18 Months of Reforms.” California Health Care Foundation.
Teaching
UC Center Sacramento - Assistant Adjunct Professor
As an educator, I utilize a range of teaching methods that cater to diverse learning styles and foster active engagement. Whether teaching in person or online, I encourage participation, critical analysis, and collaboration. My use of discussion-based teaching, interactive assignments, and technology-enabled learning platforms allows students to engage with course material in ways that are most effective for them individually.
As an educator, I utilize a range of teaching methods that cater to diverse learning styles and foster active engagement. Whether teaching in person or online, I encourage participation, critical analysis, and collaboration. My use of discussion-based teaching, interactive assignments, and technology-enabled learning platforms allows students to engage with course material in ways that are most effective for them individually.
