After receiving a Ph.D. in political science in 2007 from Texas A&M University, he worked as an assistant professor at the University of North Texas until 2013. His areas of research include mass political behavior, political representation, racial and ethnic politics, and public health. His work has appeared in the American Journal of Political Science, American Political Science Review, British Journal of Political Science, Political Research Quarterly, International Journal of Epidemiology, Social Science & Medicine, and others. He is a recipient of the 56th Nikkei Prize for Excellent Books in Economic Science.