Dr. Bear Reflects on Six Years of Bridging Research and Democracy

As part of its continuing mission to spotlight the individuals shaping its work, the Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability (IDEA) is featuring graduate alumni whose contributions have helped strengthen the lab's research, outreach, and impact. This edition highlights Dr. Bear, who spent six years at IDEA while completing his Ph.D. at Ohio State.

“When I arrived at Ohio State, I knew I was passionate about democracy and learning how to improve it, but I wasn’t quite sure where to begin. Joining the IDEA Lab gave me the opportunity to learn more about the democratic process, think critically about how to make it better, peek behind the curtain of the academic research process, advance my own research interests, and bridge the worlds of academia and public interest in a meaningful way.”

Dr. Bear joined IDEA as a first-year graduate student and quickly immersed himself in real-world democratic engagement. He supported IDEA’s Deliberative Town Halls, helping to organize and field constituent questions for elected officials. The experience gave him direct exposure to both the opportunities and the complexities of public dialogue in practice.

“It gave me a front-row seat to the challenges and possibilities of democratic dialogue while sharpening my own research instincts and skills along the way.”

Over the years, Bear deepened his involvement. He developed critical academic tools by navigating Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes, participating in research planning, and collaborating in weekly team meetings. His work often aligned with his own scholarly interests, creating a highly integrated research experience.

“I bolstered my own academic skills by learning how to prepare and submit documents for the IRB, participated more earnestly in team meetings, and helped to brainstorm and refine research questions for the team.”

IDEA’s model allowed Bear to balance his research assistantship with a competitive funding package and consistent mentorship from faculty.

“It meshed nicely with my own research interests, often allowing me to ‘double-dip’ work for IDEA and my own research. It also granted me consistent access to the stellar faculty at IDEA who helped review my work, provide guidance, and ultimately write me recommendation letters while assisting me through the final stages of my Ph.D. to help me secure a job after graduating.”

For Bear, the IDEA Lab was more than a place to conduct research—it became a professional and intellectual home.

“Looking back, IDEA was more than just a research assistantship. It was a home where I grew intellectually, built meaningful relationships, and found purpose in work that truly matters.”

He leaves this advice for future students and researchers looking to bridge academic knowledge with democratic impact:

“If you're passionate about democracy and want to do work that bridges scholarship and the public good, there’s no better place to start than IDEA.”

To connect with Dr. Bear, visit his LinkedIn profile.