Jeba Humayra

Graduate Research Assistant

Sociology: human rights and political violence, dissent and repression, internet governance and human rights, digital authoritarianism, and contemporary South Asian politics.

Jeba is a PhD student in public sociology at George Mason University, where she is specializing in Political Sociology with a concentration on Globalization. She holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. While pursuing her master's, she interned and worked full-time at various international non-governmental organizations, focusing on social justice and human rights advocacy. Subsequently, she worked as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in child protection project within the Rohingya refugee context, the world’s largest refugee camp located in Bangladesh.

Jeba's research focuses on technology and politics, Bangladesh’s foreign policy, international relations, the impact of digital technology on warfare, the role of artificial intelligence in reshaping repression, the geopolitics of technology, digital authoritarianism, emerging patterns of internet shutdowns, and the global context of democracy and human rights.

When not engaged in reading or research, Jeba enjoys indulging in desserts, especially when paired with a good cup of coffee.

Current Research

Jeba’s current research investigates the intersection of democracy, human rights, and digital technology in post-authoritarian Bangladesh. Focusing on the country's ongoing political transition and the contested landscape of cyber governance, the project combines empirical methods including in-depth interviews, webinars, and multi-stakeholder dialogues to examine how digital infrastructures both reproduce authoritarian control and open avenues for democratic reform. It critically assesses the regulation of misinformation, surveillance practices, and algorithmic repression, while proposing legal and policy reforms grounded in democratic values and rights-based frameworks. By foregrounding the voices of scholars, activists, policymakers, and technologists, this research aims to advance inclusive, accountable, and emancipatory models of digital governance within the field of public interest technology.

If you would like to learn more about the project or are interested in participating as an interviewee, please feel free to reach out to Jeba at jhumayra@gmu.edu

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. "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.

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