Doctoral Students – David Konisky

I am actively recruiting doctoral students to join my research teams. If you are interested in working with me, please contact me with information about your background and research interests. You can also read more about the PhD programs at SPEA here.

I also routinely work with undergraduate and masters students, and prospective and current IU students should contact me about current opportunities.

I am currently working with the following talented group of students on various projects:

Adam Lazri is a PhD student from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region sthttps://blogs.iu.edu/konisky/graduate-students/udying public affairs at Indiana University, Bloomington. My major areas of study are environmental policy and policy analysis, and my minor is social science methods. My primary research interest is environmental justice, including concerns ranging from discriminatory siting of environmental hazards to minority opinions vis-a-vis environmental outcomes.

Trevor Memmott is a PhD student at Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He studies environmental policy, with an interest in environmental justice and energy transition. Trevor was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Idaho, what he got his B.S. in political science and M.P.A from the University of Idaho. Before moving to Bloomington, he worked as an administrative assistant at the City of Moscow and as an adjunct professor at Washington State University and the University of Idaho. In his free time, Trevor enjoys reading, hanging out with his dogs, and playing basketball.

Shannon Conley is a PhD student at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental affairs. She studies environmental policy and management, with a focus on implementation and natural resource governance. Shannon grew up on the Gulf Coast of Florida and attended Florida State University where she earned a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Environmental Studies. When she’s not looking at her computer, she enjoys trail running and exploring marine ecosystems.

Past Students:

Michelle Graff completed her PhD in 2021 from Indiana University’s School of Environmental and Public Affairs program. She studies domestic environmental policy and policy analysis, with a focus on U.S. energy assistance programs and the distributive impacts of energy policies. Michelle grew up in New York and earned a B.A. from Colby College in Maine and Masters degree from George Washington University. Prior to moving to Bloomington, Michelle lived in Washington, D.C. and worked for a New England Democratic Congresswoman and the Environmental Protection Agency. When she isn’t working, Michelle enjoys walking and running with her dog on the B-Line or in the woods.

Zhengyan Li completed his PhD in 2020 from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs of Indiana University. He studies environmental justice and intergovernmental relationship. His dissertation examined the implications of information disclosure for environmental justice. Before he came to SPEA, Zhengyan graduated from Renmin University of China with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and from Columbia University with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. In his free time, Zhengyan likes hiking and traveling.

Parrish Bergquist completed her PhD in 2018 from MIT’s Department of Political Science and Department of Urban Studies & Planning. She studies public opinion, political parties, and political representation, with a focus on state politics and the environment. Her dissertation project addresses the development of the parties’ positions on environmental issues, the evolution of public opinion about them, and the relationship between public opinion and elite positions. Parrish grew up in Birmingham, AL, and earned a B.A. at the University of Virginia and Masters degrees in environmental policy and urban planning from the University of Michigan. Other highlights from life before graduate school include serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras and working for the Federal Trade Commission, City of Ann Arbor, and National Association of Development Organizations. If she’s away from her desk, check outside; she’s probably running, hiking, cycling, or climbing. Parrish is a postdoctoral fellow at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.

Stefan Carpenter completed a PhD from Indiana University’s Joint Public Policy Program, which is jointly administered by the School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the Department of Political Science. His dissertation focuses on the collective governance of wildlife resources in the presence of human-wildlife conflict and its effectiveness compared to the traditional “fortress model” conservation approach. In his former life, Stefan was a practicing attorney, where he engaged in civil, employment, and environmental litigation. When he isn’t thinking academic thoughts, Stefan enjoys hiking, riding his bikes, photography, and chasing after his exceedingly energetic kids. Stefan is now an Assistant Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University.