Open to opportunities

Jenna Pedersen

@jennapedersen

Quantitative political scientist specializing in surveys, causal inference, and translating data into actionable insights.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I am seeking roles conducting rigorous survey and public opinion research where I can lead study design, causal analysis, and translate findings into actionable recommendations for cross-functional teams.

I am a quantitative political scientist with a PhD and over five years conducting large-scale public opinion research, survey experiments, and causal analyses. My work centers on political behavior, polarization, and intergroup perceptions, and I translate complex findings into clear guidance for decision-makers.

I design surveys, develop sampling and weighting strategies, and build reproducible analysis pipelines in R while collaborating with engineers, data scientists, and client-facing teams. I have experience managing multiple concurrent projects under tight timelines and producing memos, visualizations, and presentations for both technical and non-technical audiences.

My professional background includes editorial work for a top journal and applied roles in industry where I led mixed-methods research, documented workflows, and supported scalable knowledge transfer. I deliver rigorous, timely insights that inform strategy, messaging, and advocacy goals.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Bartender

Current

The Maryland House

Jan 2021 - Present (5 years)

Managed high-volume service environments, prioritized tasks under pressure, and maintained accuracy and professionalism while coordinating with team members to ensure efficient operations.

Customer Service Time Management Team Coordination Communication

Ph.D. Researcher

Washington University in St. Louis

Jan 2019 - Aug 2025 (6 years 7 months)

Designed and fielded large-scale public opinion surveys and experiments, developed sampling and weighting schemes, and conducted causal analyses in R to produce actionable insights for stakeholders under tight timelines.

Survey Design Survey Weighting R Qualtrics Prolific Causal Inference Data Visualization

Editorial Assistant

American Political Science Review

Jan 2020 - Jan 2024 (4 years)

Synthesized reviewer feedback into actionable recommendations and managed high-volume peer review workflows to ensure clarity and methodological rigor under strict deadlines.

Peer Review Project Management

Learning Partner

Cerner

Jan 2017 - Jan 2019 (2 years)

Liaised between analysts, engineers, and client teams to translate research into training and product recommendations, led mixed-methods research, and developed documentation to support scalable knowledge transfer.

Mixed Methods Research Training Development Data Analysis Documentation

Senior Support Analyst

Cerner

Jan 2015 - Jan 2017 (2 years)

Collaborated with engineers and analysts to diagnose workflow inefficiencies, synthesized recurring issues into recommendations, and authored user guides to improve system adoption and processes.

Technical Support Process Improvement Troubleshooting Documentation Client Communication Cross Functional Collaboration

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Washington University in St. Louis

Doctor of Philosophy, Political Science

2019 - 2025

Completed M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science with dissertation on the effects of electoral outcomes and cross-party relationships on affective polarization.