Dilruba Tas
Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science Department at the University of Florida
I am a ViCS Predoctoral Fellow at the University of Florida, where I research gender and armed conflict, emotions, refugee studies, and the application of AI in conflict forecasting.
Research
International Security, Gender and Armed Conflict, Refugee Studies, Emotions, and AI Applications in Conflict Forecasting
Teaching
TA Experience & Guest Lectures in Political Science and International Relations
Collaboration
Open to Research Partnerships and Academic Collaborations
Research
My research focuses on conflict studies, women in armed rebellion, and the application of ML and AI in conflict forecasting. I explore the intersection of gender, emotions, and armed conflict to understand complex international relations dynamics.
Dissertation Project
The Emotional Battlefield: Mobilizing External Support for Insurgencies
Research Question
Why do some rebel groups garner international support by highlighting women's participation, while others do not?
Core Argument
The emotional resonance of gendered narratives is the missing mechanism linking women's visibility in rebellion to external support. Rebel groups strategically frame women as humanitarian defenders, protectors, or fighters to evoke specific emotions. The emotional responses shape how international audiences perceive the group's legitimacy and influence their willingness to offer support.
Theoretical Contribution
My dissertation addresses the gap in existing research by conceptualizing legitimacy as an emotionally mediated belief constructed through rebel narratives on women and the symbolic power of women's visibility in conflict. I develop a new framework that identifies emotion as the central mechanism through which gendered portrayals shape judgments of legitimacy and subsequent support decisions of external actors.
Research Methods
Survey Experiment
Vignette-based survey experiment measuring emotional reactions, legitimacy evaluations, and willingness to support rebel groups
Text-as-Data Analysis
Computational analysis of rebel narratives and portrayals of women in conflict using a novel dataset of rebel discourse on women
Machine Learning
Automated detection and classification of gendered narratives and emotional content
Research Methods & Expertise
Teaching Experience
I am passionate about education and committed to fostering dynamic learning environments through innovative teaching methods including simulations and data analysis.
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy emphasizes active learning through innovative methods including simulations and data structure analysis. I believe in creating engaging, interactive learning environments that combine theoretical knowledge with practical applications. My approach integrates real-world data and case studies to help students understand complex topics in international relations, security, and armed conflict.
Teaching Assistant Experience
Teaching Assistant
Provided teaching assistance including teaching sections,grading assignments, holding office hours, and supporting student learning in comparative politics.
Teaching Assistant
Teaching assistant for multiple semesters, responsible for teaching sections, grading, holding office hours, and providing comprehensive academic guidance.
Teaching Assistant
Teaching assistant position, provided grading, office hours, and academic support for sustainability studies course.
Guest Lectures
International Security
Guest lecturer covering contemporary issues in international security.
Teaching Methods:
Gender, Data, and Conflict
Guest lecturer exploring the intersection of gender studies, data analysis, and armed conflict.
Teaching Methods:
Nationalism and Conflict
Guest lecturer examining nationalism dynamics and conflict resolution strategies.
Teaching Methods:
Interested in Learning More?
I'm always open to discussing teaching opportunities, curriculum development, or educational collaborations in international relations and comparative politics.
Get in TouchContact
I'm always interested in hearing about new research opportunities, collaborations, or questions about my work. Feel free to reach out!
Get in Touch
dtas@ufl.edu
I typically respond within 24-48 hours
Location
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Professional Profiles
Send a Message
Research Collaboration
I'm interested in collaborating on research projects related to conflict resolution, refugee studies, gender and armed conflict, and AI applications in conflict forecasting. My expertise includes applying machine learning and data science techniques to advance our understanding of conflict dynamics and peace processes.