Hometown
Cataguases, Brazil
Undergraduate education
Bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in law, University of Juiz de Fora
Employer
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Job Title
PhD Student–Department of Political Science
Start Date
August 2024
Primary job responsibilities
I conduct research on authoritarian populism, judicial politics, and institutions in Latin America, teach courses in legal studies, and work also as a research assistant.
Describe a project that best illustrates your job
My research focuses on the impact of authoritarian populist rhetoric on institutional trust in Brazil, using survey experiments to analyze how exposure to different types of rhetoric influences public perception of institutions, primarily courts.
How do you use what you learned at La Follette on the job?
I apply my quantitative skills in research, use policy analysis frameworks in my work, and draw on my experience with client-based projects to bridge academia and policymaking.
Which experiences and skills in particular helped you get your job?
Quantitative training, policy analysis experience, teaching at UW-Madison, and my background in law and defense policy.
What experiences shaped your decision to pursue a master’s degree in public affairs?
My time as a legal advisor in the Brazilian Air Force and witnessing how populism shapes public trust in institutions motivated me to study political institutions more broadly.
What drew you to the La Follette School?
The quantitative focus, small class sizes, and faculty expertise in political science and policy. The La Follette School was my top choice for developing policy research skills.
Project assistantships
During my time at the La Follette School, I held teaching assistant and legal studies assistant positions at the Political Science Department and the Legal Studies Center. During the summer, I had the opportunity to be a project assistant at the La Follette School for Associate Professor Tana Johnson, developing my coding skills in a project that analyzed the role of state and organization interactions at the World Trade Organization.
What impact did your client-based projects have on your education and/or career?
During my Capstone project, I worked with the Department of Community Corrections conducting a project evaluation. This gave me practical experience applying research to real-world policy problems and reinforced the importance of evidence-based policymaking.
Most rewarding experience at the La Follette School
The continuous support for my research, from conferences to faculty mentorship, and the collaborative environment that shaped my academic growth.
Most challenging experience at the La Follette School
Mastering quantitative methods in my first year, especially statistics and microeconomics.
Why would you recommend the La Follette School?
It offers top-tier policy training, a supportive community, and strong faculty mentorship that prepares you for both academia and policy work.
Awards or honors since graduating from the La Follette School
- Publication of my research on populism and institutional trust, and grants supporting my work on political institutions.
- Paula da Cruz, T. (2024). Trusting the Courts: Exploring the Link Between Populism, Trust in Courts, and Democracy in Brazil. Journal of Politics in Latin America. Forthcoming.
- Paula da Cruz, T. (2024), The Influence of the Militarisation of Bureaucracies during Bolsonaro’s Government on Public Opinion about the Brazilian Armed Forces. Bull Lat Am Res.
Mentors
Jean Vilbert (MIPA ’22) was an incredible mentor who guided me through applications, coursework, and career decisions.
I would like to emphasize…
My passion for bridging research and policy, my commitment to studying democracy in Latin America, and my love for Madison’s academic community.
Favorite book, podcast, app, Madison restaurant …
Book: Why Nations Fail
Podcast: The Daily
App: Slack
Madison restaurant: The Cheesecake Factory
People would be surprised to know that I …
Served as a legal advisor for the Brazilian Air Force and worked at the highest level of the Brazilian Executive Branch before pivoting to academia.