Bio
Welcome! I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University. My research explores the causes and consequences of hostage taking, including projects on rebel kidnapping, hostage recovery policy, and hostage diplomacy. Broadly, I study political violence, international security, civil war, terrorism, and negotiations.
My current book project examines why and how armed groups kidnap during civil war. It is based on my PhD dissertation, which received the American Political Science Association's 2021 Merze Tate Award for the Best Dissertation in International Relations, Law, and Politics. My research is published in the American Political Science Review, International Studies Perspectives, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, Terrorism & Political Violence, the Texas National Security Review, and the Journal of Political Science Education.
In 2023, I was selected to serve on the Bipartisan Commission on Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) In Washington, DC. I frequently write public commentary in outlets including Foreign Affairs, the Washington Post, USA Today, War on the Rocks, Lawfare, Just Security, the Duck of Minerva, and Political Violence at a Glance, and I have been interviewed by outlets including ABC, the BBC, CNN, ESPN, NBC, NPR, and The New York Times. I have advised the British, Canadian, and U.S. governments on hostage recovery policy and spoken about my research at the Aspen Ideas Festival.
Before joining the faculty at Northwestern, I was the Edelson Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and International Security at the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College; an Assistant Professor of Military & Strategic Studies at the United States Air Force Academy; and a Minerva-Jennings Randolph Peace Scholar at the United States Institute of Peace. Before beginning my doctoral work, I served four years on Capitol Hill including as a Senior Legislative Assistant and Appropriations Associate, and I have worked as a policy advisor on presidential and congressional campaigns. I received my PhD in Political Science from the George Washington University; Master's degrees from the George Washington University and the London School of Economics; and a BA in Ethics, Politics, and Economics from Yale.
I love the mountains, and I seek any opportunity to hike or ski. I have completed several marathons and half-Ironman triathlons, and I am an indoor cycling instructor (Spinning(R), Coach-by-Color(R), and CPR/AED certified).
You can reach me at danielle.gilbert@northwestern.edu.
CV
Welcome! I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University. My research explores the causes and consequences of hostage taking, including projects on rebel kidnapping, hostage recovery policy, and hostage diplomacy. Broadly, I study political violence, international security, civil war, terrorism, and negotiations.
My current book project examines why and how armed groups kidnap during civil war. It is based on my PhD dissertation, which received the American Political Science Association's 2021 Merze Tate Award for the Best Dissertation in International Relations, Law, and Politics. My research is published in the American Political Science Review, International Studies Perspectives, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, Terrorism & Political Violence, the Texas National Security Review, and the Journal of Political Science Education.
In 2023, I was selected to serve on the Bipartisan Commission on Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) In Washington, DC. I frequently write public commentary in outlets including Foreign Affairs, the Washington Post, USA Today, War on the Rocks, Lawfare, Just Security, the Duck of Minerva, and Political Violence at a Glance, and I have been interviewed by outlets including ABC, the BBC, CNN, ESPN, NBC, NPR, and The New York Times. I have advised the British, Canadian, and U.S. governments on hostage recovery policy and spoken about my research at the Aspen Ideas Festival.
Before joining the faculty at Northwestern, I was the Edelson Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and International Security at the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College; an Assistant Professor of Military & Strategic Studies at the United States Air Force Academy; and a Minerva-Jennings Randolph Peace Scholar at the United States Institute of Peace. Before beginning my doctoral work, I served four years on Capitol Hill including as a Senior Legislative Assistant and Appropriations Associate, and I have worked as a policy advisor on presidential and congressional campaigns. I received my PhD in Political Science from the George Washington University; Master's degrees from the George Washington University and the London School of Economics; and a BA in Ethics, Politics, and Economics from Yale.
I love the mountains, and I seek any opportunity to hike or ski. I have completed several marathons and half-Ironman triathlons, and I am an indoor cycling instructor (Spinning(R), Coach-by-Color(R), and CPR/AED certified).
You can reach me at danielle.gilbert@northwestern.edu.
CV