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
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