Hi everyone!

My name is Melek Hilal Eroglu, and I joined the Political Science Department at Aarhus University as a postdoctoral researcher on the Advertising Democracy (AdDem) project in August 2025. I received my PhD in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

My research explores the intersection of affective polarization, out-party hostility, democratic attitudes, voting behavior, and civic education. My dissertation examined how different pro-democracy messages can reduce the anti-democratic effects of partisan hostility, particularly among supporters and opponents of populist radical right parties. At Aarhus, as part of the AdDem project led by Suthan Krishnarajan, I’m continuing my research by investigating which types of democratic narratives are most effective in fostering democratic resilience across different national contexts.

When I’m not working, I love traveling, especially long trips where I can fully unplug. But when I’m not on the road, you’ll find me happily walking around town, dancing (mostly at home), swimming, or playing backgammon.

You're very welcome to drop by my office (1331–324) for a coffee and a chat about democracy, polarization, or a backgammon challenge.