Community Spotlight: Ellie Schueler

Describe your role and responsibilities. 

I am a research support associate (RSA), working for the most part on projects led by Evan Lieberman, the director of CIS. My responsibilities are quite varied, ranging from data analysis and research support on multi-year studies, to writing and editing assistance for short-form pieces on current events. Every day brings something new which is one of my favorite things about my role.  

What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

I’m happiest spending time outdoors, especially running, hiking, backpacking, skiing, and biking. When I’m inside, some of my favorite things to do are play the trumpet, work on my (novice) embroidery projects, and watch terrible reality TV. 

What did you do prior to coming to MIT?

I grew up in Colorado and graduated from Bates College in Maine in the spring of 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in math and politics!

What do you hope to accomplish within the next year? The next 5 years?

For the next year or so, I plan to stay at MIT, continuing to learn, grow, and explore in my current role at CIS. Beyond that, who knows where life will take me, but right now, I’m hoping to enter a PhD program in political science in the fall of 2027. 

What’s the best thing about your job?

At CIS, I'm surrounded every day by brilliant, generous individuals. Whether it's my direct colleagues, familiar faces I catch up with over coffee, or visiting scholars who share their work here, there is no shortage of people to be inspired by. As someone early in my career with so much still to learn, I'm continually struck by how valued I feel at CIS, as a researcher and as a person. That's not something you can take for granted in this field, particularly given the caliber of the people I work alongside, and I don't.

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