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 |
Academic Appointments
| Sep 2025 – Sep 2026 |
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 |
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) & Dutch |
| Fluent | English & French |