Biography

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Texas A&M University. I received my Ph.D. in Political Science from The Pennsylvania State University in May 2024.

My research investigates political violence and civil conflict processes with a focus on the intersection of violent political behavior and the socio-organizational dimensions of rebellion. Specifically, I examine how rebel organizations' violent and nonviolent interactions with allies, rivals, civilians, and the broader public shape conflict outcomes such as mobilization into rebellion and civilian victimization. My scholarship encompasses two (strongly aligned) lines of inquiry: (1) rebel-civilian interactions and (2) rebel communication strategies, with emerging projects also exploring multi-party civil conflicts and rebel intra-group politics. I use a variety of quantitative methods, including network analysis, text-as-data, quasi-experiments, and survey experiments.

My work has been published or is forthcoming in Comparative Political Studies, Journal of Conflict Resolution, International Interactions (x2), and Terrorism and Political Violence. My research has been funded by the Minerva Research Initiative, Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, and Melbern G. Glasscock Center.

I am a Civil War Paths Fellow with the Centre for the Comparative Study of Civil War at the University of York. I am also affiliated with the Peace & Conflict team of the Lab for Economic Development Research (LEDR).

Please reach me at ilaydaonder [at] tamu [dot] edu.

Recent Publication

Onder, Ilayda B. 2025. "How Civilian Loyalties Shape Rebel-led Victimization of Rebel Constituencies." Journal of Conflict Resolution 69 (4): 701-730.