Payton Capes-Davis

Payton Capes-Davis is a PhD student in Political Science at the University of Florida and an affiliate of the Center for European Studies. Her research focuses on the politics and policies of the far-right, citizenship, and immigration in Europe. In particular, her research explains how state policies shape the political behavior of immigrants, including their propensity to vote for the far-right.

Rolland Grady

I am a first year PhD student in the Political Science Department at the University of Florida. I study American Politics with a focus on political behavior, media and politics, and public opinion. I graduated from the University of Alabama in 2025 with my B.A. and M.A. in Political Science. 

Juliana Mucci

I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science, where I study American Politics. My research focuses on what factors of individuals' political and personal lives shape their political behavior and participation. Before attending UF, I received my B.A. in Political Science, Spanish, and Mathematics from Samford University in Birmingham, AL in the Spring of 2020. I received my master's degree in Political Science from UF in the Spring of 2024. 

Recent Work

• Mail Voting and Voter Turnout. Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy

  • Referenced in The New York Times: “This is one Republican Strategy that Isn’t Paying Off”

Soumik Sengupta

Soumik Sengupta is a first year PhD student in Political Science at the University of Florida. He is interested in migration governance, immigrant political incorporation, and citizenship in the context of Southern Europe. Before beginning his PhD, he pursued academic and professional experiences in India, Italy, Spain, Republic of Korea, and Germany.

Anna Verma

Anna Verma is a PhD student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Florida. Her research examines how socially marginalized groups engage in democratic politics, with a particular focus on women’s political behavior in India and the institutional and socio-cultural factors that shape it. Before starting her PhD at UF, she received her M.A. in Political Science from Jawaharlal Nehru University in India in 2022.

Grace Cullaro

I am a fourth-year political science and anthropology undergraduate student at the University of Florida. I am interested in European policies and immigration, studying the changing landscape both politically and culturally. I have done research specifically on voting patterns for the AfD in Germany, but my interests focus on both Western and Eastern Europe. I have traveled to a few countries in Europe, including Serbia, Greece, England, Italy, Hungary, and Spain. After graduation, I hope to work abroad for an international organization and am considering pursuing my Master's later. 

Angela Saenz

I am a fourth-year Political Science and International Studies undergraduate student at the University of Florida with a minor in French and Francophone Studies. My focus is on Europe, with a particular interest in policies on migration and their effects, as well as the rise of the far-right. My previous research experience has focused on the rise of the AfD in Germany and its impact on voting patterns. After graduation, I hope to pursue my master's degree abroad.