Jeba Humayra

Graduate Research Assistant

Sociology: Political Sociology, Sociology of Human Rights, social movements; (de-)democratization; global and transnational sociology; science, knowledge, and technology; law and society; Bangladesh

Jeba is a second-year PhD student in Public Sociology at George Mason University with a concentration in Globalization. She is also a Graduate Research Assistant at the Movement Engaged Research Hub housed within the Center for Social Science Research. She earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in International Relations from the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. During her master's studies, she interned and later worked full-time with international non-governmental organizations focusing on social justice and human rights advocacy. She then served as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for child protection project in the Rohingya refugee camps, the world's largest refugee settlement.

Jeba's research lies at the intersection of political sociology, globalization and security studies. Her work examines how Bangladesh navigates interconnected challenges of democratization, governance, and security within its unique historical, political and developmental trajectory. She is particularly interested in political transitions, social movements, national, cyber, and energy security, geopolitics and human rights. Her research explores how domestic institutions and global forces interact to shape governance, state capacity, and democratic transformation in the Global South.

Outside of research, Jeba enjoys exploring coffee shops, trying new desserts, discovering bookstores and museums and visiting botanical and flower gardens.

Selected Publications

Humayra, Jeba, Md. Kamal Uddin, and Nusrat Yeasmin Pushpo. 2024. "Deficiencies of Women's Participation in Climate Governance and Sustainable Development Challenges in Bangladesh." Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3075.

Grants and Fellowships

Presidential Scholarship ($144,000), George Mason University, 2024–2028

Graduate Student Travel Fund, GMU ($450) – ESS Conference (2025)

Graduate Student Travel Fund, GMU ($500) – Mobilization Conference (2025)

Education

PhD in Public Sociology, George Mason University (In Progress)
Master of Social Science, International Relations, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh, 2021
Bachelor of Social Science, International Relations, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh, 2020

Recent Presentations

Humayra, Jeba. 2025. “We Were Almost Emancipated, Is It Slipping Away? The Paradox of Digital Governance, Rights, and Reform in Bangladesh’s (Democratic) Transition.” Paper presented at the CSSR Movement Engaged Research Hub, Fairfax, VA, October 17.

Humayra, Jeba. 2025. “Bangladesh at the Crossroads of Democratic Reform and Post-Authoritarian Possibilities.” Paper presented at the Mobilization Conference, San Diego, CA, June 24.

Humayra, Jeba. 2025. “Examining the Role of Artistic Representations in Mobilizing Collective Identity and Challenging Oppressive Regimes in Bangladesh.” Paper presented at the Eastern Sociological Society Annual Conference, Boston, MA, March 7.