New PhD Student at the Department
William Burchardt Egendal is new PhD student at the Department
![William Burchardt Egendal Photo: Wen-Chi Su](/fileadmin/site_files/filer_statskundskab/Arrangementer/William.jpg)
Hi Everyone,
I’m William Egendal, one of the new PhD students at the department. Since I’ve done both my bachelor’s and master’s right here at the department, you could call me a certified, home-grown PhD student.
In my project, I aim to examine the role of informal communication in the EU legislative process, particularly focusing on whether it affects process, policy, or both. Having spent a semester as an intern in Brussels and after interviewing several EU officials, it is my clear impression that informal communication is perceived to be hugely important. However, it is a tricky phenomenon to both observe and measure. Fortunately, I will be supervised by Jens Blom-Hansen and Derek Beach. If anyone can help me succeed in my efforts to wrestle out a measurable effect of coffee-machine chat in Brussels, it’s them! If anyone else finds this interesting, shoot me an e-mail, stop by my office (1331-213), or catch me at the coffee-machine.
Apart from the EU, my research interests include role perceptions, how organizational structures affect individual behavior, cultural differences in international organizations, among other things. Outside of work, I am a (soon-to-be-retired) gymnast, an amateur guitar player, and an avid book reader.
I look forward to working with all of you at the Department of Political Science!