Project Title: Whose Briefs Count? Mapping Regional Influence in Healthcare Cases Before the Supreme Court
Rachael Houston, Texas Christian University
Rachael Houston is an assistant professor of political science at Texas Christian University. Her research explores the intersection of judicial behavior, political communication, and social psychology, focusing on how individuals learn about and form opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court. She has published in journals such as Interest Groups & Advocacy, Journal of Law and Courts, and Political Research Quarterly.
Marcy Shieh, Miami University in Ohio
Marcy Shieh is an assistant professor in the department of political science at Miami University in Ohio. She studies American politics with a concentration in judicial politics. Her research interests examine the influence of political elites, the mass public, and advocacy groups on the behavior and media coverage of justices on state and federal courts. She applies methods, such as text analysis and survey experiments, to conduct her work.
Christine C. Bird, Oklahoma State University
Christine C. Bird is an assistant professor of political science at Oklahoma State University. Her research focuses on agenda setting and elite influence in decision-making in law and courts. She is the Director of the Bird Law and Public Policy Lab and an Associate Director of the U.S. Policy Agendas Project. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas and her J.D. from Oklahoma City University. Her work has appeared in Political Research Quarterly, American Politics Research, The Journal of Law and Courts, Interest Groups & Advocacy, and Polity.
The APSA Diversity and Inclusion Advancing Research Grants are open to all to provide research support that examines political science phenomena affecting underserved communities and underrepresented groups. In July 2025, APSA awarded 11 projects for the APSA Diversity and Inclusion Advancing Research Grant for Early Career Scholars for a combined total award amount of $22,000. In December 2025, APSA was able to fund an additional five scholars for a combined total award amount of $10,000. Read more about Advancing Research Grants for Early Career Scholars