Introducing Jack Andolina, a new addition to Dartmouth's Program in Quantitative Social Science

The Program in Quantitative Social Science (QSS) at Dartmouth College is excited to welcome Jack Andolina, an accomplished researcher with a passion for computational social science, to our academic community.

Academic Background and Research Expertise

Jack completed his B.S. in Political Science and Data Analytics at UC San Diego in June 2024, where he excelled both academically and in research. His senior thesis, titled "Quantifying Partisan Media Bias: Gatekeeping and Framing of Congressional Misconduct," was awarded high honors under the mentorship of Dr. Umberto Mignozzetti. This work highlights Jack's ability to delve deeply into complex issues at the intersection of media and politics, using data-driven approaches to uncover insights into how media bias influences public perception.

Before joining Dartmouth, Jack served as the Computational Social Science Research Lead at the Institute of Cyber Archaeology and Sustainability within the Qualcomm Institute. There, he honed his skills in applied artificial intelligence and led projects that bridged technology and social science. Jack's work has been recognized at conferences, including the American Society of Overseas Research and the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science conferences, where he presented his research on AI applications and partisan media bias.

Professional Experience

In addition to his academic achievements, Jack brings a wealth of professional experience to Dartmouth.  As the Computer Social Science & Team Leader at the Center for Cyber-Archeology and Sustainability, Qualcomm Institute, he led a team of interdisciplinary undergraduates in creating a digital twin of Chula Vista's Bayfront District, Hollywood's Vinyl District, and UC San Diego. At U.S. News & World Report, Jack served as a Product Analyst Intern, where he developed a web scraper to collect extensive government data and efficiently cleaned and processed large datasets using Python. Additionally, as the Executive Legislative Intern at the County of San Diego, Jack engineered essential data infrastructure, utilizing innovative VBA scripts and conducting comprehensive data analysis, which facilitated seamless engagement with 620,000 constituents.These experiences have equipped him with a broad perspective on how data can be leveraged to inform policy and media practices.

Role at Dartmouth

At Dartmouth, Jack will be taking on the role of a post-baccalaureate Research Associate in Quantitative Social Science. Working closely with Professor Brendan Nyhan, member of the QSS Steering Committee and James O. Freedman Presidential Professor of Government, and Professor John Carey, a QSS affiliate and John Wentworth Professor in the Social Sciences and Government, Jack's primary focus will be Bright Line Watch, which surveys the state of democracy in the United States. Jack will be involved in many aspects of this project, from survey design to the analysis of results, contributing to a deeper understanding of the challenges facing democracy today. In addition to his work on Bright Line Watch, Jack will be engaged in several other research initiatives. He will contribute to a variety of projects focused on understanding the dynamics of misinformation spread on social platforms.

Personal Interests

Outside of his professional and academic pursuits, Jack enjoys exploring the arts and the outdoors.. Jack enjoys writing music, hiking, painting, and participating in a variety of outdoor activities.

QSS is thrilled to have Jack Andolina join Dartmouth, and we look forward to the innovative research and fresh perspectives he will bring to QSS.