Welcome to my website! My name is Matthew (Matt) T. Cota and I am a Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science at Michigan State University (expected to graduate in Spring 2027). I earned my B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 2022.

I am on the 2026–27 job market.

My research examines American political institutions with a focus on the federal judiciary, particularly the U.S. Supreme Court. My work is centered on explaining the behavior of U.S. Supreme Court justices and the text of their written opinions. I employ quantitative methods to examine and identify the factors that shape judicial behavior. My research has been published in PS: Political Science and Politics.

My teaching is focused on the judiciary and the law, and quantitive research methods. I have taught courses on constitutional law, taught labs for introductory quantitative methods courses, and an R programming camp for first-year PhD students. In addition to teaching, I work with undergraduate students on research projects.

Outside of political science, I love spending time with family, running, brewing coffee, reading history and short stories, hiking and camping, cooking, making homemade pizza, and playing guitar. I was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and am an avid fan of the Vikings, Twins, and Gophers (when they are doing well, at least).

For more information about my work, please visit my Research page or contact me at cotamatt@msu.edu.