Professor Gelber researches freedom of speech, human rights and public discourse. She is the recipient of several ARC grants on these topics, including a Future Fellowship (2012-2015): ‘Free Speech After 9/11’. In November-December 2017, she was a Visiting Scholar at Global Freedom of Expression, Columbia University, New York. In 2014, with Prof Luke McNamara, she was awarded the Mayer journal article prize for the best article in the Australian Journal of Political Science in 2013. In 2011 she was invited by the United Nations to be the Australian Expert Witness at a regional meeting examining States’ compliance with the free speech and racial hatred provisions of international law. In 2009 she presented the Mitchell Oration in Adelaide on the topic ‘Freedom of Speech and its Limits’.

Professor Gelber is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences Australia, and an elected member of the Academic Board, University of Queensland 2018-2020. She is a former President of the Australian Political Studies Association, and still serves on its Executive Committee. She is Chair of the Local Organising Committee for the 2018 World Congress of the International Political Science Association, Brisbane.