Elizabeth Sperber, M.A., M.Phil., is a Ph.D. candidate in the Political Science Department at Columbia University. She has completed comprehensive exams in international relations and comparative politics, and fulfilled coursework required for a special minor in sociology. Her research interests include religion and politics in sub-Saharan Africa and the political economy of international development, including foreign aid and applied social policy research. Primary research experience includes fieldwork in southern and eastern Africa, as well as anti-poverty and public health policy research in the urban U.S. Professors Macartan Humphreys, Kimuli Kasara, Jack Snyder, Fred Ssewamala, and Al Stepan advise her work.

Prior to undertaking her graduate studies, Ms. Sperber graduated with honors from Brown University, where she triple majored in History, Africana Studies, and English in 2006. From 2006-2008, she worked on applied social policy research in the urban US, South Africa and Uganda.

Awards

• 4/2011 Leitner Family Fellowship for Research in Africa, Institute for African Studies
• 4/2011 Seed Grant, Center for Democracy, Toleration & Religion
• 3/2011 Winner, Doria Prize for Best Paper in Comparative Politics by a pre-M.Phil Student, Columbia University
• 6/2010 Saltzman Institute of War & Peace Studies CQRM Fellowship
• 5/09 Graduate Research Fellowship, Institute for Religion, Culture & Public Life
• 12/2008 New Leader, Carnegie Council on Ethics in International Affairs
• 5/2006    Ida B. Wells Award, Brown University
• 5/2005 UTRA Research Fellowship, Brown University

Working Papers

• Sperber, E. "Divided Development: a theory of bilateral development aid in post-colonial relationships." (Awarded Doria Prize, 2011).
• Sperber, E. "Meltzer and Richards in 3-D: Reconceptualizing religion and redistributive preference in rural Uganda."
• Kyle, J. & Sperber, E. "Breaking it Down: The determinants of bilateral aid fractionalization." Presented at Oxford, NYU and Columbia University, 2010.
• Kyle, J. & Sperber, E. "The Struggle for Control Over Aid Expenditure: Determinants of U.S. aid fragmentation." Presented at Columbia University, 2011 and APSA 2011. 

Selected publications

• With Ssewamala, F., Keun, H.C., Neilands, T.B. & Islaymova, L., (2010) "The effect of economic assets on sexual risk taking among orphaned adolescents in Uganda." American Journal of Public Health.
• With Ssewamala, F., Zimmerman, J., & Karimli, L. (2010) "The potential for asset-based poverty alleviation strategies in sub-Saharan Africa." International Journal of Social Welfare.
• With Ssewamala, F., Islaymova, L., McKay, M., Bannon, W., & Alicea, S. (2010) "Gender and the effects of an economic empowerment program on attitudes toward sexual risk-taking among aids-orphaned adolescent youth in Uganda." Journal of Adolescent Health.
• Sperber, E. (2009) "China into Africa: Trade, Aid and Influence." Journal of International Affairs.