Introducing our Methods School Directors

We are excited to welcome Andrea De Angelis and Theresa Gessler as Methods School Directors for our renowned Methods School, where they will oversee all academic matters for the event.

Andrea and Theresa bring internationally recognised experience in researching, teaching and training in qualitative and quantitative research methods. We very much look forward to working with them to ensure that our Methods School continues to grow, innovate and thrive.

Andrea De Angelis

Andrea is Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) in Computational Social and Political Sciences at the University of Milan. He previously held positions at the University of Zurich and the University of Lucerne, and earned his PhD from the European University Institute. His research examines political behaviour in contemporary information environments, with a focus on political misinformation, media effects, and elections.

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Andrea's expertise

Andrea's research focuses on political behaviour, political communication, and democratic decision-making in digital information environments. He studies how media systems, political leaders, and political (mis)information shape political attitudes and electoral behaviour.

Andrea's work relies on quantitative and computational methods, with particular attention to causal inference, measurement, and research design. He has designed and taught numerous courses in statistics, research design, and computational social science, and has been active in promoting transparent and reproducible research practices.

On his appointment

I am excited to join the ECPR Methods School as the AI era unfolds. The Methods School has long been a key space for methodological exchange in political science in Europe. As AI tools enter everyday research practice, it is important to complement their use with solid knowledge and critical understanding of research design, measurement, and inference.

Methods training remains above all a human process of learning together, where exchange and collaboration are central to how researchers grow. I see the Methods School as a place where in-person interaction continues to drive a programme that is rigorous, open, and responsive to ongoing methodological change.

Theresa Gessler

Theresa  is Full Professor of Democratic Political Decision-Making at the University of Hamburg. Before joining the University of Hamburg in 2025, she worked and studied at universities in Switzerland, Italy, Hungary and Germany. Her research examines challenges for democracy and its processes, including democratic backsliding, digitalisation and diversity.

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Theresa's expertise

Theresa’s research focuses on comparative politics, with an emphasis on political behaviour, institutions, and communication. She studies how democratic systems confront internal and external challenges, including shifting patterns of political competition and the digital transformation of politics. Although she frequently examines the politics of Central‑Eastern Europe, her work also spans broader cross‑national contexts.

Methodologically, Theresa's work relies on quantitative and computational approaches, especially the analysis of large‑scale textual, survey, and digital trace data. She is particularly interested in integrating digital perspectives into substantive research questions and employs a wide range of tools, including machine learning, language models, and image analysis.

On her appointment

Methods are a key tool for research, and I am excited to help others improve their skills. I hope to support a Methods School that is diverse in its contents, inclusive towards students and instructors from different backgrounds, and modern in its approach to teaching and learning.

Coming soon

Under the expert guidance of its new Directors, the Methods School returns to the General Conference for the second time! The programme offers an unmissable opportunity to strengthen your methods skills – while enjoying full access to ECPR's flagship event.

Keywords: Political Methodology, Methods, Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods