I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a 2024 Carnegie Fellow. Before joining UNC’s faculty, I was an Assistant Professor at the University of Oregon and received my Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.

My research agenda focuses on political polarization ranging from its root causes in the 20^th century to its material impacts on individuals’ welfare and experiences in the contemporary era.

My book, Roots of Polarization (September 2024, University of Chicago Press), explores how the racial realignment shaped contemporary polarization across other culture war issues. You can pre-order it here.

I am currently working on a set of projects that investigate how political predispositions shape health outcomes, trust in doctors, and adherence to medications — beyond the scope of the COVID pandemic. This work was awarded a 2024 Carnegie Fellowship.

I have also published on these topics in the American Political Science Review, Journal of Politics, British Journal of Political Science, Perspectives on Politics and Public Opinion Quarterly. My work on early abortion opinion among evangelicals has been included in The Washington Post’s Monkey Cage and I have commented on national and state politics in The Huffington Post, Newsweek, NBC News as well as numerous state and local news outlets.

I teach courses on The U.S. Congress, statistics for political science (grad and undergrad) and Introduction to U.S. Politics.

Email: nobrian@unc.edu

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NeilOBrian4

Photo credits: University of Oregon