I am an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow and political scientist at Durham University's School of Government and International Affairs. My work sits at the intersection of political transitions, elite bargaining, and the relationship between power, media, and democracy.

I received my PhD in International Development from SOAS University of London in 2024, where my doctoral research investigated local power brokers, electoral politics, and the complexities of democratisation in post-intervention Afghanistan (2001–2021). During my doctoral studies, I was a Visiting PhD Fellow at the University of Amsterdam's Centre for Conflict Studies.

As an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow, I lead a funded project — The Power of Bargaining: Elections, Rents, and War-to-Peace Transitions — that bridges fieldwork insights with comparative political economy, media studies, and human rights. My current research also extends into authoritarian governance, information control, and digital authoritarianism.

My professional path bridges academia, journalism, and policy. I have held roles at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights (Lund University), the BBC World Service (BBC Persian), and the American University of Afghanistan. I have lectured on public policy and political journalism across several institutions. Beyond research, I pursue photography as a means of capturing life's quieter, reflective moments.

Additional information about my work can be found in the publications and research sections. For inquiries, potential collaborations, or media enquiries, feel free to get in touch by sending me a note.