Tim M
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley)
Expertise
International Political Economy, Politics, Computational Social Science Research, Digital Currency Governance
Bio
I am passionate about research that directly addresses pressing issues in the world today. I firmly believe that the rigor of quality social science research matters as much as the impact of that research, particularly on individuals and communities marginalized by predominant social and economic systems. In this respect, I believe it is critical to foster both a deep curiosity and sharp analytical skills at an early stage. Personally, I find joy in creative expression and enjoying the outdoors. When I am not working, I frequently paint, write short stories, hike, or otherwise wander local trails in my area. Above all else, I thrive in the kitchen and bring the same inquisitive mindset I use in my research when devising and exploring new culinary recipes.Project ideas
Effects of Inconsistent Global Regulation in Cutting-Edge Technology
What are the causes and repercussions of inconsistent regulations on emerging technologies, like blockchain, quantum computing, and others, among countries in the world? This project would examine a specific feature of this broad and complex issue, including any of the following: (i) barriers to effective regulation in cutting-edge issues and implications for lobbying, (ii) incentives for distinct regulatory frameworks by within-country conditions and implications for 'race-to-the-bottom' dynamics, or (iii) expansion of institutional mandates allowing organizations (like the UN, IMF, World Bank, or others) to take global leadership in new issues, and how this expansion shapes global guidelines.
Patterns of Global Crisis Management and Causes of Failure
Why do some issues - like climate change or the Covid-19 pandemic - defy effective global responses, and what are the patterns of global crisis management that produce these failures? Major issues like these can develop slowly or rapidly, including narrow or wide expert communities, and affecting specific or broad segments of society and the economy. This variation complicates global crisis management, which is crucial for mitigating negative effects of crises on individuals, especially those marginalized by existing social and economic infrastructures. This project would take one of two potential approaches: (i) a controlled case comparison between two global crises to examine the similarities and differences and foster analytical insights regarding differences in the outcome of their respective management strategies, or (ii) examination of a particular governing body at the international level to contrast its crisis management success over time, and examine what changes drove differences in outcomes.
Great Power Competition and Domestic Society
How do the dynamics of great power competition - geopolitical rivalries between countries in the world - affect domestic society within countries? History has long examined the drivers of great power competition, often relying on classical arguments of balance of power and institutional arrangements, while domestic political analysis often focuses on issues germane to the voting public. However, less attention is paid to the ways in which these two levels of political process affect one another. This project would examine one of the three following relationships under this purview: (i) how domestic conditions in China or the United States has shaped the bilateral relationship between these two countries in the past two decades, (ii) how the Cold War shaped domestic US policy in the two decades following the collapse of the Soviet Union, or (iii) in any historical example of great power competition, whether any changes in domestic society were necessary and/or sufficient in fostering a peaceful conclusion of international aggression or tensions.