Ani Tepnadze, PhD

I recently earned my Ph.D. in Political Science with an emphasis on comparative political institutions and political behavior from West Virginia University. My research stands at the intersection of society, technology, and politics. I am particularly interested in how technological advancement is used by governments, tech companies, and societies to pursue their interests. 

My previous research explores grievance mobilization in digital communities, traditional and social media disinformation, and the impact of workforce automation on marginalized groups. I utilize both quasi-experimental designs (propensity score matching, DiD, IV) and predictive modeling tools (SVM, BERT, mixed-effects logistic Regression) to address critical questions related to democratic backsliding, election management, grievance mobilization, and disinformation campaigns. Multiple of my previous research projects have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Europe-Asia Studies and Problems of Post-Communism. The American Political Science Association and the Minerva Research Initiative have supported my research. 

I have taught courses in International Relations and Comparative Politics as an Instructor of Record since Spring of 2023 after serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant between Fall 2021 and Fall 2022. I have greatly enjoyed undergraduate teaching and advising to new incoming students in the department of political science and Fulbright students at West Virginia University. 

Prior to starting my Ph.D. program at West Virginia University, I studied political science and peace-building at the University of Jena and European Union politics at Tbilisi State University. Outside my graduate training, I participated in the Organization of Security and Economic Co-Operations international election observation missions, volunteered at non-governmental organizations and organized intercultural exchange programs.

As a first-generation scholar and immigrant from a post-Soviet country, my research is informed both by my personal experiences and academic training. My experience growing up in a volatile political environment instilled in me a sense of resolve to identify innovative solutions to both persistent and emerging issues in facilitating democratic survival. This lived experience has played a paramount role in shaping my academic inquiries and has motivated my work for over a decade. 

Outside of research, I love spending time with my husband, Todd and my Swiss Shepherd, Leo.

for more information about my research, visit my research page or contact me at at0131@mix.wvu.edu.