I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Riverside. My research broadly lies in American politics and political behavior, with specific interests in class and income inequality, poverty, redistribution, policing, and incarceration.

In my dissertation, I explore the effect of contact with close friends and family members experiencing poverty or financial distress on support for redistribution and attitudes toward the poor, as well as the role of empathy for poor loved ones as a motivator for redistributive support. You can learn more about my research here.

I earned my Master of Arts in 2022 and my Bachelor of Arts in 2018, both from the University of California, Riverside. In my downtime, I find joy in gothic horror, golden hour, and gardening, among other, non-alliterative activities.

If you would like to get in touch, please don’t hesitate to email me at beasim.ooi@email.ucr.edu or submit a contact form. Thank you for visiting!