Dawn Brancati's research focuses on the relationship between democratic institutions and intrastate violence. She has written two books on these subjects, Peace by Design and Democracy Protests, a textbook on research methods, and numerous articles in leading academic and policy journals. Her work has been recognized with awards, fellowships, and grants from various institutions, including the American Political Science Association, National Science Foundation, and German Marshall Fund, among others. Based on her research, she has advised government and international agencies, including the US Department of State, USAID, US Senate, and World Bank. At Yale, she teaches courses on democratization, international security, and research methods.