Songkhun Nillasithanukroh

Sunny Nillasithanukroh
Assistant Professor
Email Sunny

Dr. Songkhun (Sunny) Nillasithanukroh is an Assistant Professor at the Clinton School of Public Service, where he teaches Data Analysis, Field Research Methods, and Program Evaluation. 

His research focuses on the intersection of technology, particularly artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and governance. His current projects explore how AI can be used to improve public service delivery, support policy development, and promote public participation in civic processes. He also works on projects aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity preparedness of local governments. Additionally, he is interested in electoral politics, examining how candidates leverage resources and technology to win votes. 

Nillasithanukroh’s academic work has appeared in Electoral Studies, European Journal of Political Economy, and Technology in Society. He has also collaborated on projects for the International Growth Centre (IGC) and USAID.

Nillasithanukroh holds a Ph.D. in political science from Duke University and is a member of American Political Science Association (APSA) and the Southeast Asia Research Group (SEAREG).

  • Ph.D., Political Science, Duke University
  • M.A., Committee on International Relations and Public Policy, University of Chicago
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • Research Areas
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Civic Participation
    • Electoral Politics
    • Political Economy
  • Peer-reviewed Articles
    • Nillasithanukroh, S. (2023). Broadcasting party information: Can the introduction of community radio reduce the effective number of parties? Electoral Studies, 84, 102637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2023.102637 
    • Nillasithanukroh, S. (2025). Businessperson candidates and their employees: How do businessperson candidates use their firms to get elected? European Journal of Political Economy, 102753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2025.102753 
    • Nillasithanukroh, S., Park, C. H., Baek, J., Ahn, G.-J., & Richards, R. (2025). Mapping the landscape of cybersecurity preparedness: A systematic review of non-technological determinants and consequences. Technology in Society, 103042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103042
    • Nillasithanukroh, S., Park, C. H., Richards, R., & Ghaleb, A. (2025). A panel data analysis of the impact of government trust on support for vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social Science & Medicine. 118586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118586.
  • Book Chapter
    • Nillasithanukroh, S., Patel, E., Malesky, E., & Weinthal, E. (2023). Illegal wildlife trade in the Mekong: The interplay of actors, legal governance, and political economy. In J. Sowers, S. D. VanDeveer, & E. Weinthal (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Environmental Politics (pp. 609-629). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197515037.013.48

  • Research Areas
    • Program Evaluation
    • Data Analysis
    • Survey Design
  • Grants
    • International Growth Centre (IGC)
      • Digital Consultation of Firms and Regulatory Compliance: Piloting an Experiment in Regulation Design in Thailand (Grant No. THA-22047; January 2022 – March 2023) with Allen Hicken, Edmund Malesky, and Markus Taussig
  • Policy Reports
    • Hicken, A., Malesky, E., Nillasithanukroh, S., & Taussig, M. (2023). Can expert feedback improve SMEs’ views of government’s regulatory legitimacy? Evidence from Thailand. International Growth Centre. https://www.theigc.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/Hicken-et-al-Policy-brief-April-2023_0.pdf
    • Malesky, E., Nillasithanukroh, S., Patel, E., & Weinthal, E. (2019). Scaling Back Wildlife Trade in the Mekong Delta: Applying a Political Economy Lens to the Farmer Loophole with a Focus on Vietnam and Laos. USAID.

  • Data Analysis
  • Seminar in Program Evaluation
  • Field Research in Public Service