My name is Matt Martin (he/him), and I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Comparative Constitutions Project, funded by the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Chicago Law School. I recently completed my PhD in Government at the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in public law and comparative politics. My research examines constitution-making processes, with particular emphasis on mechanisms of public consultation. My other substantive interests include Latin American politics, U.S. immigration politics, and indigenous constitutionalism.
My dissertation analyzes how and why constitutional drafters consult citizens and incorporate public input, with comparative case studies of constitution-making in Chile and Cuba. My methodological toolkit includes large-N analyses, natural language processing of constitutional deliberations, elite interviews, and qualitative case studies. My first publication is accessible via open access at The Journal of Law and Courts.
Prior to graduate school, I received my B.A. in Political Science and Legal Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. After graduation, I worked as a legal assistant in immigration law at a Washington, D.C. firm. I assisted attorneys with family- and humanitarian-based immigration cases ranging from permanent residence to removal defense to asylum, experience that deeply informs my scholarly interest in constitutional rights and immigration politics. I continue this commitment through ongoing advocacy work, supporting trans and gender non-conforming asylum seekers by gathering legal resources, contacting lawyers, and organizing fundraisers on their behalf.
Outside of work, I enjoy playing guitar and producing music—mostly lofi hip-hop.