Robert M. Stein, Ph.D., is the fellow in urban politics at the Baker Institute and the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science at Rice University. He also is the faculty director of Rice’s Center for Civic Engagement. Stein’s current research focuses on alternative modes of elections and voting procedures in the United States; emergency preparedness, behavioral response to severe weather events, and risk assessment; and home weatherization programs in low- and moderate-income households. His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the City of Houston’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, the Environmental Defense Fund and Pew Charitable Trusts, among others.

Stein is co-author of “Perpetuating the Pork Barrel: Policy Subsystems and American Democracy” (Cambridge University Press, 1995) and author of “Urban Alternatives: Public and Private Markets in the Provision of Local Services” (Pittsburgh Press, 1990). He has received the Outstanding Reviewer Award from Political Research Quarterly and the Best Paper Award on Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations (with Kenneth Bickers) from the American Political Science Association. He teaches courses on public policy, urban politics and political behavior at Rice, where twice he has been awarded the George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching. Stein received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. He earned his master’s and doctoral degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Contact him at stein@rice.edu or (713) 348-2795.