Academic Appointments
Oct 2025 – Present
ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow
Durham University, School of Government & International Affairs
Feb – Dec 2025
Research Fellow
Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights, Lund University
Feb – Oct 2025
Master's Thesis Supervisor
SOAS University of London
2023
Visiting PhD Fellow
University of Amsterdam, Centre for Conflict Studies
2019 – 2021
Lecturer, Social Sciences & Humanities
American University of Afghanistan, Kabul
Education
2024
PhD in International Development
SOAS University of London
2016
MSc in International Crimes & Criminology
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2015
MSc in Comparative & European Politics
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2012
BSc in Political Science
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Professional & Media
2021 – Present
Country Expert
Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute
2016 – 2019
Broadcast Journalist
BBC World Service (BBC Persian)
Grants & Awards
2025 – 2026
ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship · £121,676
UK Economic & Social Research Council
2013 – 2015
Merit-based Graduate Grants
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Selected Conference Presentations
2025
Rethinking Engagement: Pathways to Peace and Prosperity in Afghanistan
Basel Peace Forum. Invited speaker.
2024
Are Counter-terrorism Strategies Effective?
ECPR General Conference, University College Dublin. Paper presenter.
2022
The Crisis of Liberal Interventionism and the Return of War
University of Copenhagen. Paper presenter.
Teaching
2025
Master's Thesis Supervision
SOAS University of London
2019 – 2021
Lecturer — Public Policy & Political Journalism
American University of Afghanistan, Kabul
Languages
Native
Persian (Farsi / Dari)
Fluent
English & Dutch