Dixin Li

Job Market Focus

Academic (tenure track) or postdoctoral positions in criminology, criminal justice, or other relevant fields 

Expected Graduation

Spring 2026

Dixin's Dissertation

“The Rippling Discretion in the Criminal Justice System: A Case Study of Prosecutorial Reform in Cook County”

Committee: Dr. Brian Johnson (Chair), Dr. Bianca Bersani, Dr. Greg Midgette, Dr. Robert Stewart, and Dr. Patrick C. Wohlfarth

Dixin's Research

My primary research interests include criminal courts, inequalities in the criminal justice system, and the broader implications of criminal punishment across a variety of societal outcomes.

I primarily use quantitative methods but also draw on qualitative approaches, allowing the research question to guide the method. While much of my work examines the United States, I also pursue comparative perspectives to understand how punishment operates across different international contexts.