Undergraduate Researchers
Below are the short bios of our Fall 2021 ROCCA Undergraduate Researchers, or the ROCCA’teers!
Max Adams (he/him/his) is a Junior at Vanderbilt majoring in Political Science and minoring in Business. In the ROCCA Lab, Max is working on behalf of the Outsourcing Repression team with Dr. Ritter, as well as the Nuclear Politics team with Dr. Gheorghe. Outside of the ROCCA Lab, Max is a member of the Ingram Scholars Program on campus and really enjoys beekeeping in his spare time. After Max graduates in 2024, he is hoping to pursue a career in law.
Ehab Alhosaini (he/him/his) is a senior majoring in Public Policy and Economics. He is currently part of the Alliances team with Dr. Benson. He is interested in international relations, economic development, and relations between rural and urban individuals. He also loves to hang out with friends, play soccer, and catch up on the news.
Martín Alemán is a senior majoring in Economics and Political Science with minors in Scientific Computing, Data Science, and History. He works on Professor Benson’s research team on Small Arms Trade Networks and Political Violence, as well as Margaret Frost’s team on Exposure to Violence. Outside of ROCCA, Martín enjoys being outside and exploring beaches and mountains in his home country Panama.
Rahan Arasteh (he/him/his) is a fourth-year student studying Political Science and Human & Organizational Development, with minors in Spanish and Data Science. At ROCCA, he is helping Dr. Brett Benson research the effect of small arms trade on civil wars and Dr. Jennifer Larson on her research on reducing prejudice against refugees. Outside of ROCCA, Rahan is part of Vanderbilt Student Government, the Model UN Travel Team, and the Vanderbilt Athletics communications team while also working on his thesis regarding the political participation of Iranian-Americans.
Trent Bohan (he/him/his) is a junior majoring in political science and human & organizational development. He is a part of Professor Larson’s Refugees team and Professor Schram’s Bioweapons team. Outside of ROCCA, Trent is a member of Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations and enjoys running, and backpacking.
Amanda Bortner (she/her/hers) is a student at Vanderbilt in the class of 2024 and is double-majoring in Medicine, Health, & Society and Cognitive Studies and minoring in Data Science. She is working on two projects in the ROCCA lab- Professor Larson’s project Reducing Prejudice Towards Refugees and Nuclear Politics with Professor Gheorghe. Outside of research, Amanda is a co-president for the campus organization of Gift of Life, an international stem cell registry and she is on the club squash team.
Danni Chacon (she/her/hers) is a sophomore double majoring in Political Science and Latin American Studies and minoring in Data Science. In the ROCCA lab, Danni is working on behalf of the Bolivians Deaths team with Prof. Bjork-James as well as the Reducing Prejudice toward Refugees team with Prof. Larson. Outside of the lab, she is an avid writer and editor for the Vanderbilt Political Review and is a passionate VUceptor where she serves as a mentor to first-year students. On the weekends, she enjoys running, hiking, and exploring Nashville.
Claire Cho (she/her/hers)is a junior majoring in Political Science and Economics with a minor in Business. She is part of Professor Larson’s Reducing Prejudice toward Refugees project and Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War and Peace team. Outside of ROCCA, she is part of Active Minds and enjoys longboarding around campus.
Nicole Cuthbert (she/her/hers) is a senior majoring in Computer Science and Psychology. At ROCCA, she works on Professor Larson’s Reducing Prejudice toward Refugees project and Colin Henry’s Political Internet Spaces project. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking and playing board games.
Oliver Dong (he/him/his) is a senior majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science. In ROCCA, he is in Professor Larson’s team on Reducing Prejudice toward Refugees and Professor Benson’s team on Alliances. Outside of ROCCA, he is working toward a software engineering career.
Duaa Faquih (she/her/hers) is a junior studying Political Science and Psychology and is currently with Larson’s Reducing Prejudice Towards Refugees team and Barnes’ Coercive Agents team. Outside of the lab, Duaa is involved in the Vanderbilt Huster, the Muslim Students Association, and Women in Government.
Warren Gignac (he/him/his) is a senior majoring in Political Science and Economics with a minor in Data Science. He is a member of Professor Larson’s Refugees team and Professor Benson’s Small Arms Team. Outside of ROCCA, Warren is a member of the College Scholars program and conducts international policy research through AugNación. His hobbies include hiking and photography.
Julianna Grimson (she/her/hers) is a third-year student majoring in Political Science and Human & Organizational Development with a minor in Data Science. This semester, she is researching for the Coercive Agents & State Repression team with Jennifer Barnes and working with Professor Gheorghe on the Nuclear Politics team to consult and translate Italian-language sources. In her free time, she enjoys climbing, hiking with her dog, and trying new restaurants around Nashville with her friends.
Biyao Guo (he/him/his) is a senior majoring in Political Science and Economics. He works on Professor Benson’s China, US, Taiwan Relations team and Chae Eun Cho’s Sanctions and Coalitions team. Outside ROCCA, he also loves to play soccer and tennis.
Chloe Hall (she/her/hers) is a senior majoring in Public Policy and minoring in Data Science. In the ROCCA Lab, she is co-Assistant Director and a member of Professor Smith’s Arms Transfer and Alliances project. On campus, she is a contributor for the Vanderbilt Political Review and works as a writing consultant for the Vanderbilt Writing Studio.
Yuna Jeon (she/her/hers) is a senior double-majoring in Human & Organizational Development and Spanish & Portuguese. She is the Director of the Outreach team and a member of the Reducing Prejudice toward Refugees Team directed by Dr. Larson. Yuna works with the Next Steps program and is involved in the Asian American Student Association, AMIGOS, and the Student Basic Needs Coalition.
Clara Jiang (she/her/hers) is a senior double majoring in Math and Political Science and minoring in Philosophy and Data Science. She is a member of Professor Benson’s Alliances team, and she is also working with Haonan Dong on some Japanese primary documents of the negotiation of Twenty-One Demands between China and Japan. Outside of ROCCA, Clara is also a research assistant at RIPS Lab and an editor for Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Journal.
Hunter Johnson will graduate from the College of Arts & Science in 2023. He is double majoring in Russian and Music. He is working on Professor Coe’s teams, investigating Nuclear Proliferation and Terrorism. Outside of ROCCA Hunter is a member of the NROTC Unit.
Joseph Kang (he/him/his) is a junior studying Economics and History with minors in Business and Political Science. He is working with Professor Coe’s team on Economic Origins of War and Peace and with PhD candidate ChaeEun Cho’s Building Coalitions for Economic Sanctions team. He previously worked on assisting interviews with North Korean refugees. Outside of the Lab, he is involved in Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations and the Vanderbilt Prison Project.
Lexi Kay (she/her/hers) is a sophomore majoring in Human and Organizational Development and Political Science. She is currently a member of Professor Ritter’s Outsourcing Repression team and Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War and Peace team. Outside of ROCCA, she is a member of the Vanderbilt Dance Team and loves playing the new NYT Daily Mini crossword each morning.
Rebecca Kim (she/hers) is a sophomore studying Economics and Public Policy with minors in Business, Data Science, and Chinese. She is currently involved in Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War & Peace project as well as Professor Gheorghe’s Nuclear Proliferation project. Outside of ROCCA, she is involved in VSG’s Student Services Fee Committee and VINES.
Aaditi Lele is a sophomore studying Political Science and Climate Studies, with a minor in South Asian Studies. Within ROCCA, she is a part of Dr. Larson’s Refugees Team, as well as Margaret Frost’s Militarization of Covid-19 response team. Outside of ROCCA, Aaditi also serves as the News Editor of the Vanderbilt Hustler student newspaper, and enjoys being involved with the Model UN Team and Women in Government!
Sunny Li (she/her/hers) is a Senior studying Math and Econ. She is part of Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War project and Professor Smith’s Arms Transfer and Alliances project. Outside of ROCCA, she enjoys playing board games.
Marco Navarro (he/him/his) is a sophomore studying Political Science and Latin American Studies. In the ROCCA Lab, he is part of Professor Ritter’s team on Outsourcing Repression, as well as Margaret Frost’s “State vs. Organized Crime.” Outside ROCCA, Marco does research for the LAPOP lab, and is involved with the Association of Latin American Students and the Alexander Hamilton Society. In his free time, he likes to cook dishes from his home country, Peru, and play soccer.
Demos Negash (he/him/his) is a sophomore majoring in Physics and Mathematics. He is a member of Professor Ritter’s Outsourcing Repression team and Margaret Frost’s State vs. Organized Crime team. Outside of ROCCA, he writes for the Vanderbilt Political Review and enjoys reading and playing basketball
Zacarias Negron (he/him/his) is a Chancellor’s Scholar in the Class of 2025 at Vanderbilt University, where he is majoring in Political Science (International Track) and Law, History, & Society. He is minoring in Russian Studies and Islamic Studies with a particular focus on the Caucasus and Central Asian regions. He is a member of the Vanderbilt University Debate Team, competing in collegiate and British Parliamentary and Case Competition debates, both foreign and domestic. He serves on the Reducing Prejudice Toward Refugees Team and Outreach Team at the ROCCA Lab.
Tejas Ogale (he/him/his) is a senior studying Economics. In ROCCA, he is currently working on Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War and Peace team and Colin Henry’s Political Internet Use team. He is also a writer on the Vanderbilt Political Review and loves to watch sports and play poker.
Katherine Oung (they/them) is a sophomore majoring in Political Science and minoring in Data Science. They are on Professor Schram’s “How Useful Are Biological Weapons?” research team and the Outreach team. Outside of ROCCA, they are the Managing Editor of the Vanderbilt Hustler and enjoy oil painting.
Prayaga (Ray) Prasad (She/Her/Hers) is a senior majoring in Mathematics, Economics, and Political Science. She is a member of Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War and Peace team and Heesun Yoo’s Data on Organized Criminal Groups team. In her free time, she loves learning about art, and hiking with her friends.
Anson Qiu (he/him/his) is a junior at Vanderbilt studying computer science and economics. He is in part of professor Benson’s team “Small Arms Trade Networks and Political Violence” and professor Gheorge’s team “Nuclear Politics.” In his free time, he enjoyed working out, writing music, and playing poker in Vegas!
Mihir Ram (he/him/his) is a sophomore at Vanderbilt majoring in Mathematics and Political Science and minoring in Data Science. At ROCCA, he is part of Professor Bjork-James’s The Significance of Deaths in Bolivian Political Conflict Team, as well as Professor Larson’s Reducing Prejudice toward Refugees Team. Outside of Rocca, he enjoys playing tennis and is an avid supporter of the Philadelphia Eagles and 76ers.
Maya Reddy (she/her/hers) is a junior studying Molecular and Cellular Biology and Political Science, with a minor in Communications of Science and Technology. In the ROCCA Lab, she is on two projects: How Useful Are Biological Weapons? with Dr. Schram and Reducing Prejudice Towards Refugees with Dr. Larson. Outside of the lab, Maya is a Captain of the Vanderbilt Debate Team and an Officer for the Vanderbilt Chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society. She also loves baking, concerts, and going to coffee houses with her friends. After graduation, Maya hopes to pursue a career in bioethics.
Shravya Vasireddy (she/her/hers) is a junior majoring in Political Science with minors in French and Gender & Sexuality Studies. She is part of the Coercive Agents and State Repression team as well as the Reducing Prejudice Towards Refugees team. Outside of ROCCA, she is on the Model UN team.
Maggie Victory (she/her/hers) is a sophomore double majoring in Political Science and Philosophy. In the ROCCA Lab, she is currently working on Professor Larson’s “Reducing Prejudice Towards Refugees” research and Professor Bils’ “Variation in Interstate Alliances” research. Outside of the ROCCA lab, she is a writer for the Vanderbilt Hustler and is a volunteer for the Nashville Dolphins.
Stefani Yan (she/her/hers) is a junior double majoring in Political Science and Economics with minors in Sociology and Business. In ROCCA, she is in Professor Larson’s team on Reducing Prejudice toward Refugees and Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War and Peace. Outside of ROCCA, Stefani is involved in the International Student Council and Vanderbilt Climbing Club
Jack (Yuantao) Yang (he/him/his) is a senior double majoring in Political Science and History with a minor in Japanese Language and Culture. He is a member of Professor Coe’s Economic Origins on War and Peace project and Professor Benson’s project on China, US, Taiwan Relations. He enjoys traveling and watching sports in his free time.
George Yang (he/him/his) is a senior majoring in Economics and Political Science; he is expected to graduate in May 2023. This semester, George is working on Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War and Peace Team as well as Professor Bils’ Alliance Team. Outside ROCCA, you can find George eating, sleeping, watching soccer games, and trying not to mess up his kitchen.
Amy Zhang (she/her/hers) is a senior double majoring in Political Science and Economics and minoring in French. She is a member of Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War and Peace team and Professor Larson’s Reducing Prejudice Toward Refugees team. Outside of ROCCA, Amy is also a research fellow and research assistant at LAPOP and an editor for Vanderbilt Political Review.