Jacob Ricks joined Singapore Management University in 2013. He finished his PhD at Emory University, his Master's at Northern Illinois University, and his Bachelor's at Utah State University. His research focuses on ethnic and national identities as well as the political economy of development in Southeast Asia, with a special emphasis on Thailand. He is co-author of 'Ethnicity and Politics in Southeast Asia' (Cambridge University Press, 2022) as well as articles in outlets such as World Politics, Political Behavior, World Development, and Pacific Affairs, among others.