Jonathan Mellon

Jonathan Mellon

Political Scientist

British Election Study

Biography

I am co-director of the British Election Study and a Staff Data Scientist at Pinterest. Formerly an Associate Professor (with tenure) at West Point’s Department of Systems Engineering.

My research focuses on survey methodology, improving measurement (including through the use of AI tools), and causal inference in social science. Substantively I study electoral behavior, online citizen engagement, and measuring public opinion.

I have published 31 articles in peer reviewed journals including the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, and the Journal of Politics. I also co-authored Electoral Shocks: The Volatile Voter in a Turbulent World with Oxford University Press (available open access).

My full list of publications are available on Google Scholar or my CV.

Interests
  • Political behavior
  • Public Opinion
  • Social Science Measurement
Education
  • DPhil in Sociology, 2010-2014

    Nuffield College, University of Oxford

  • MSc in Sociology, 2009-2010

    St Cross College, University of Oxford

  • BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, 2006-2009

    St Anne's College, University of Oxford

Experience

 
 
 
 
 
Pinterest
Staff Data Scientist
Pinterest
September 2025 – Present Remote
 
 
 
 
 
West Point
Associate Professor
West Point
August 2023 – August 2025 NY
 
 
 
 
 
British Election Study
Co-Director
British Election Study
May 2020 – Present Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council
 
 
 
 
 
West Point
Assistant Professor
West Point
June 2022 – August 2023 NY
 
 
 
 
 
University of Manchester
Senior Lecturer
University of Manchester
July 2020 – June 2022 Manchester, UK
 
 
 
 
 
University of Manchester
Hallsworth Fellow
University of Manchester
September 2017 – July 2020 Manchester, UK
 
 
 
 
 
University of Oxford
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Oxford
October 2013 – September 2017 Oxford, UK
 
 
 
 
 
British Election Study
Team member
British Election Study
October 2013 – May 2020 Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council