John Alford

John Alford is Professor of Political Science at Rice University, where he has served as Full Professor since 2015 and Associate Professor from 1985 to 2015. He previously held positions as Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia from 1981 to 1985, Instructor at Oakland University from 1980 to 1981, and Teaching-Research Fellow at the University of Iowa from 1977 to 1980. Alford earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Iowa in 1981, an M.A. in Political Science from the same institution in 1980, an M.P.A. in Public Administration from the University of Houston in 1977, and a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Houston in 1975.

His published work centers on elections and voting behavior, with an emphasis on the American Congress, as well as diverse topics including coal mine safety, pro-natalist policy in Eastern Europe, and the genetics of political ideology. Alford's current research examines the biology of political behavior, incorporating brain science, genetics, and the role of evolution in shaping human political behavior. Key publications include the book Predisposed: Liberals, Conservatives, and the Biology of Political Differences (Routledge, 2013, co-authored with John R. Hibbing and Kevin B. Smith); 'Are Political Orientations Genetically Transmitted?' (American Political Science Review, 2005, with Carolyn L. Funk and John R. Hibbing); 'Political Attitudes Vary with Physiological Traits' (Science, 2008, with Douglas R. Oxley, Kevin B. Smith, and others); 'Differences in Negativity Bias Underlie Variations in Political Ideology' (Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 2014, with John R. Hibbing and Kevin B. Smith); and 'Disgust Sensitivity and the Neurophysiology of Left-Right Political Orientations' (PLoS ONE, 2011, with Kevin B. Smith and others). He received the CQ Press Award in 1988 for the outstanding paper in legislative politics at the American Political Science Association annual meeting, for 'The Demise of the Upper House and the Rise of the Senate: Electoral Responsiveness in the United States Senate' (with John Hibbing). Alford has obtained multiple National Science Foundation grants, including for 'Identifying the Biological Influences on Political Temperaments' (2009-2011) and 'Genes and Politics: Providing the Necessary Data' (2007-2010). He has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Politics (2007-2008) and various Rice University committees, such as the University Senate (2021-2023) and University Council (2012-2013).

Professional Email: John.R.Alford@rice.edu