A native of Chicago, Granato is the director of the University of Houston's Hobby Center for Public Policy and a professor in the department of political science. He is also appointed as an inaugural University of Houston Energy Fellow.    

Prior to coming to the Hobby Center for Public Policy, Granato taught in the department of government at the University of Texas (2005-2006) and in the department of political science at Michigan State University (1991-2001). His teaching and research interests include American politics, political economy, public policy, econometrics, and the unification of formal and empirical analysis.

Granato’s professional experience also includes service as the political science program director and visiting scientist at the National Science Foundation (NSF). His research has been supported by the city of Houston, various Texas governmental agencies, the Houston Endowment, and the National Science Foundation. He is the author or co-author of numerous publications in academic journals such as American Journal of Political Science, Economics and Politics, Journal of Theoretical Politics, Macroeconomic Dynamics, Political Analysis, Political Research Quarterly, Public Choice, and the Southern Economic Journal.  A sample of his research can be found in his book, The Role of Policymakers in Business Cycle Fluctuations, which focuses on how monetary policy can stabilize business cycles. 

Jim Granato earned a bachelor of science degree in political science and business administration from Southern Illinois University (1982). His first venture to Texas was as a graduate student at A&M University, where he earned a master’s degree in political science (1985). He also received his Ph.D. in political science and a certificate in political economy from Duke University in 1991.