AI Research
Jul 17, 2026
Bailey Flanigan's Diverse Academic Journey Leads to MIT Faculty Role
Jul 17, 2026
AI Summary
Bailey Flanigan, a faculty member at MIT, has pursued a diverse academic path that spans multiple disciplines, including political science, computer science, and public health. Her research focuses on enhancing democratic participation through computational tools, reflecting her commitment to addressing social inequalities.
- Bailey Flanigan grew up in Wisconsin, where her curiosity led her to explore various interests from a young age, including medicine and social issues.
- In high school, she focused on creative subjects rather than traditional AP classes, leading to independent exploration of her interests.
- Flanigan is currently a faculty member at MIT, holding positions in the Schwarzman College of Computing and the departments of Political Science and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
- Her research background includes work at the University of Wisconsin, the National Institutes of Health, Google, and several prestigious universities.
- Flanigan's academic journey includes a shift from cancer research to public health, where she focused on HIV detection technologies for low-resource settings.
- Influential mentors, including Steven Wright and Evita Nestoridi, encouraged her to pursue higher academic goals and explore mathematics.
- She completed her PhD at Carnegie Mellon, researching social choice and democratic decision-making, and developed algorithms for citizen assembly participant selection.
- Flanigan's work aims to improve public political decision-making processes and ensure broader representation in democratic practices.
- Her research is accessible through panelot.org, a platform that helps practitioners navigate the complexities of citizen assembly selection.
- Flanigan feels a strong sense of belonging at MIT, appreciating the environment that supports her interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving.
computational methodsdemocracyresearchassistant professorcomplex systems