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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences University of Florida

Hire a PhD in Political Science

Professional headshot of Glen Billesbach

Glen Billesbach

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Glen Billesbach

Website: glenbillesbach.com

Research Interests: Political Theory | International Relations | Science & Technology Studies | Environmental Politics | Interpretive Methods

Glen Billesbach received his PhD in Political Science in 2025 and is currently a Postdoctoral Associate for Sustainability Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida. In this position, he contributes to research and teaching at the intersection of political theory, international relations, and science and technology studies.

Glen’s scholarship employs historical, philosophical, and qualitative-interpretive methods to investigate the challenges and opportunities surrounding emerging technologies. His current research focuses on the role of technology and expertise in global climate politics, as well as how digital self-tracking tools shape self-interpretation and political agency.

His courses engage foundational and contemporary themes in political thought, sustainability, digital rights and principles, and experiential learning. As part of the Center for Adaptive Innovation, Resilience, Ethics and Science, he coordinates an interdisciplinary research and community partnership program (The Active Learning Program) aimed at fostering environmental wellbeing, social empowerment, resilient communities, and the responsible deployment of technology.

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Mai Frndjibachian

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Mai Frndjibachian

Website: maifrnd.com

Research Interests: National Identity | Narratives | Southeast Asia | Cultural
Politics

Mai Frndjibachian is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of
Florida. Her research examines the shaping of national narratives in Southeast
Asia, especially post-war Vietnam, focusing on how theatre and multisensory
performance influence identity formation and state-building. Mai’s
interdisciplinary work draws on interpretive methods and qualitative inquiry to
investigate political communication, cultural politics, and Southeast Asian
international relations. In the classroom, she emphasizes active, collaborative
learning through Team-Based Learning, and her commitment to inclusive, high-impact teaching was recognized with the 2025 Best Graduate Teacher Award in Political Science.
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Prajakta Gupte

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Prajakta Gupte

Website: pgupte.com

Research Interests: : Civil-military relations | Democratization | Global South | Party systems | Authoritarian regimes

I am a Ph.D. Candidate at the Department of Political Science, University of
Florida. My dissertation focuses on how military entrepreneurship has influenced democratization in some Southeast Asian and Latin American countries. Broadly, my research deals with issues related to civil-military relations, persistence of authoritarian regimes and challenges to democratic consolidation in the Global South.
Professional headshot of Long Xiao

Long Xiao

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Long Xiao

Website: longxiao-lx.com

Research Interests: U.S.-China Relations | U.S. Foreign Policy | China Politics | Securitization | International Governance

Long Xiao is currently a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Florida. His research interests focus on U.S.-China relations and U.S. foreign policy, with particular emphasis placed on securitization. His dissertation has been devoted to examining the motivations and actors responsible for the heightened perception of China as a threat in U.S. congressional discourse over the past decade. His research has been published in the International Journal of Strategic Communication and Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene.

Long Xiao is originally from Shenzhen, China. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pittsburg State University in Political Science and International Studies in 2019.