Hi!

My name is Mathis Lohatepanont, and I go by Ken. Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. My research focuses on the politics of development, economic upgrading, and capacity-building. I previously worked at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), where I assisted with research projects on how states can support domestic innovation, research, and creativity in order to escape the middle income trap. I received a M.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan in 2023 and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley in 2020.

My regional area of expertise is Southeast Asia (especially Thailand) and the broader Asia-Pacific region. My research on Thai politics include work on Thai political parties and voter behavior. My writing has been published in the Washington Post, Bangkok Post, and Thai Enquirer, and I frequently provide commentary for international outlets on current affairs in Thailand. As Graduate Student Instructor at Michigan, I have also taught on Chinese and Southeast Asian politics. I enjoy writing about culture, whether that be explaining the background of famous Thai dishes or translating poetry.

If you’d like to contact me, please don’t hesitate to email me at ken.lohatepanont@gmail.com, tweet to me @kenlwrites, or reach out on LinkedIn. You can also find my CV here.