ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳

Afrah Al Matwari | Research Assistant

Afrah is Research Assistant for the project 'Managing Religious Diversity in the Middle East: Al Muhasasa Ta'ifia in Iraq, 2003–18'.

Dr Arda Bilgen | Research Officer

Arda is Research Officer working on the project 'Surface Water Changes in the Euphrates-Tigris Basin since 1984 and their Governance Implications for Iraq'.

Ninar Fawal | Research Assistant

Ninar is Research Assistant for the project Legitimacy and Civicness in the Arab World. She is an MPhil student in International Relations at the University of Oxford. 

Dr Kamaran Palani | Research Officer

Kamaran is Research Officer for PeaceRep–Iraq. Under the guidance of Professor Toby Dodge, he is conducting research on the drivers of conflict and state fragmentation in Iraq.

Greg Shapland | Research Fellow

Greg is Principal Investigator and UKRI FCDO Senior Research Fellow on the project, ‘The Political Economy of Water in the MENA Region: A Cross-Regional Assessment’. 

Dr Polly Withers | Research Officer

Polly is a Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow at the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Middle East Centre, where she leads the project 'Neoliberal Visions: Gendering Consumer Culture and its Resistances in the Levant'.

Dr Sulaiman Albadr | ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Kuwait Fellow 

Dr. Sulaiman Al-Bader is an assistant professor of Finance at Kuwait University's College of Business and an ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Kuwait Fellow at the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Middle East Centre. At the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, Dr. Albadr is researching Kuwait Residential Real Estate Drivers. 

Dr Abdulrahman Alhajri | ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Kuwait Fellow 

Abdul is Assistant Professor at Kuwait International Law School and an ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Kuwait Fellow at the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Middle East Centre. At the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, Dr. Alhajri is researching A Qualitative Study of the Right to Access Information and Digital Transformation in Kuwait. His scholarly interests span various domains within constitutional and administrative law, with a specialised emphasis on human rights discourse. 

Dr Hanaa Almoaibed | Visiting Fellow

Hanaa is Fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. Her research explores the influence of social dynamics on work and education amongst youth in the GCC.

Professor Madawi Al Rasheed | Visiting Professor

Madawi was Professor of Anthropology of Religion at King’s College, London between 1994 and 2013. Previously, she was Prize Research Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford.

Dr Huda AlRashidi | ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Kuwait Fellow 

Dr. Huda AlRashidi serves as an Assistant Professor in the Kuwait College of Science and Technology, and as an ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-Kuwait Fellow. Her research at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ is on Air Pollution Prediction Through Enhanced Deep Learning Models. 

Professor Fulya Atacan | Visiting Professor

Fulya’s research focuses on social change and Islamic institutions and movements in modern Turkey and Egypt, with particular interest in their organisational structure and politics.

Dr Richard Barltrop | Visiting Senior Fellow

Richard's research is on contemporary international approaches to peacemaking, and why peace processes fail or succeed, focusing on Yemen, Sudan and South Sudan.

Mariam Behbehani | ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Kuwait Fellow

Mariam’s research interest lies in the fields of economic development and socio-economic sciences. Her work in the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Kuwait Programme focuses on infertility treatments in Kuwait. During her ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Kuwait Fellowship, Mariam is hosted by ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Health. 

Dr Marouf Cabi | Visiting Fellow

Marouf is interested in the social and cultural histories of Kurdistan and Iran, political and social movements especially since WWII, and modern history-writing.

Dr Ghassan Dibeh | Visiting Professor

Ghassan’s research focuses on the political economy and migration in Lebanon. He is currently interested in the economics of artificial intelligence, automation and capitalism in the Arab world.

Dr Jeroen Gunning | Visiting Professor

Jeroen is Visiting Professor at the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Middle East Centre. His research focuses on political contestation in the Middle East, with a specific focus on social movements, religion and structural change.

Dr Zeynep Kaya | Visiting Fellow

Zeynep is Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Sheffield. Her main research areas involve borderlands, territoriality, conflict, peace, political legitimacy and gender in the Middle East. 

Dr Mostafa Khalili | Visiting Fellow

Mostafa is an Assistant Professor at the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research at Kyoto University. His research interest includes exploring ethnicity and minority nationalism from an anthropological angle, with a particular focus on the context of politically unstable regions.

Dr Sana Murrani | Visiting Senior Fellow

Sana researche focses on built, destroyed, and imagined geographies of war, violence and displacement in the Middle East, with a focus on Iraq. 

Dr Arash Reisinezhad | Visiting Fellow

Arash's research examines how Economic Corridors influence power structures in the Middle East, alongside Iran’s foreign policy and the geopolitics of West Asia.

Dr Anne Kirstine Rønn | Visiting Fellow

Anne Kirstine's research explores opposition movements in ethno-religiously divided societies, with a particular focus on Lebanon and Iraq. 

Dr Irene Selwaness | Visiting Fellow

Irene's research examines economic development issues with interests in social protection, social policy, labour market analysis, and gender issues.

Ahmed Tabaqchali | Visiting Fellow

Ahmed is Chief Strategist of the AFC Iraq Fund. His research focuses on Iraq’s economy, with a specific focus on the economic aspects of the relationship between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Dr Veli Yadirgi | Visiting Fellow

Veli's research covers the political economy of development, colonialism and decolonisation as well as comparative politics of the Middle East.

Dr Omar Al-Ghazzi 

Omar is Assistant Professor at the Department of Media and Communications. He researches the reporting and representation of conflict, digital journalism and the politics of time and memory, focusing on the Middle East and North Africa.

Dr Roham Alvandi 

Roham is Associate Professor of International History at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. His current research focuses on global human rights activism and the origins of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Professor Nigel Ashton

Nigel is Professor of International History at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. His main research surrounds the fields of contemporary Anglo-American relations and the international history of the Middle East.

Dr Lydia Assouad

Lydia is Assistant Professor of International Development at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. Her research lies at the intersection of political economy, development economics and economic history, with a particular focus on the Middle East.

Dr Deema Awad

Deema is currently ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Fellow in the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science where she teaches on the BSc Psychological and Behavioural Science programme.

Professor Martin W. Bauer

Martin is Professor of Social Psychology in the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science at the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, and Co-PI on the Kuwait Programme project on science culture in Kuwait.

Dr Federica Bicchi 

Federica is Associate Professor of International Relations of Europe at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. Her research interest lies in EU foreign policy and external relations - especially as they relate to the Middle East and to the Mediterranean.

Dr Ryan Centner 

Ryan is Assistant Professor of Urban Geography at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. His research revolves around a core interest in urban transformation at the nexus of social, spatial, and economic change.

Professor John Chalcraft

John is Professor of Middle East History and Politics at the Department of Government. He works on history and politics ‘from below’ in the modern Middle East and North Africa.

Professor Ernestina Coast

Ernestina is Professor of Health and International Development at the Department of International Development at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳.

Dr Joan Costa-i-Font 

Joan is Associate Professor (Reader) in Health Economics at the Department of Health Policy at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳.

Dr Nuno F. da Cruz

Nuno is Assistant Professorial Research Fellow at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities. He is Co-PI on the Kuwait Programme project 'Governance of Spatial Change: Shaping Urban Policies and Investments in Kuwait'.

Dr Muna Dajani

Muna is an ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Fellow in Environment in the Department of Geography and Environment at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. Her work aims to understand environmental and water governance through decolonial and critical lenses.

Dr Katerina Dalacoura

Katerina is Associate Professor in International Relations at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. Her latest research focuses on the role of culture and civilisation in International Relations with special reference to Turkey.

Hassan Damluji

Hassan is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Department of International Relations at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. He is co-founder of Global Nation, a think/do-tank that reimagines international cooperation. 

Dr Yazan Doughan

Yazan is Assistant Professor at the Department of Anthropology. He researches the question of social justice in contemporary postcolonial contexts, particularly in Jordan.

Professor George Gaskell

George is Emeritus Professor of Social Psychology and Research Methodology at the Department of Methodology at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳.

Mazen Gharibah

Mazen is Research Associate at the Conflict and Civil Society Research Unit in the Department of International Development at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. His work focuses on the role of governance during and post conflict with a focus on Syria.

Dr Pooya Ghoddousi

Pooya is an ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Fellow in Human Geography in the Department of Geography and Environment. His research focuses on nomadism, identity and Iran.

Professor Jeremy Ginges

Jeremy is a Professor in Behavioural Science. His research focuses on two related problems: how do humans decide whether to cooperate across cultural boundaries, and why do people sacrifice everything (their own lives, the lives of loved ones) for an abstract cause like nation or god?

Dr Alexandra Gomes

Alexandra is Research Fellow at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities and is PI on a ACAUP project and Co-PI on a Kuwait Programme . Her projects focus on urban planning, public space and mobilty. 

Professor Yaprak Gürsoy

Yaprak is Chair of Contemporary Turkish Studies at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. Her main areas of interest are Turkey’s relations with the West and the UK, and Turkish politics in comparison with Europe.

Ellen is Professor of Digital Inequalities at the Department of Media and Communications. She is a Co-PI on the Kuwait Programme project 'Evaluating Digital Skills and Tangible Outcomes in Kuwait'.

Dr Steffen Hertog

Steffen is Associate Professor in Comparative Politics in the Department of Government. Steffen’s main interest lies in Gulf and Middle East political economy, with a specific focus on the political economy of public sectors, state-business relations and labour markets.

Jennifer is Associate Professor in Nationalism at the European Institute and the Department of International Relations at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. She is PI on an MEC collaboration project with UAEU.

Professor Naila Kabeer

Naila is Professor of Gender and Development at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. Her research interests include gender, poverty, and social exclusion, her research is mostly focused on South and South East Asia.

Dr Emrah Karakus

Emrah is a Fellow in the Department of Gender Studies at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. His interdisciplinary research lies at the intersection of cultural anthropology, critical security studies, and gender and sexuality studies, with a focus on the modern Middle East.

Dr Mohsen Khezri

Mohsen is Visiting Senior Fellow at the Department of Geography and Environment at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. His research applies advanced econometric methodologies to investigate critical issues in environmental and energy economics, intending to inform policy decisions in oil-exporting nations.

Tiziana is Associate Professor in Health and International Development at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. She was PI on an MEC collaboration project looking at health in wars and conflicts.

Dr Sara Mehryar

Sara is a research fellow at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. Her research is mainly focused on supporting decision-making and governance of climate change adaptation and resilience. 

Dr Anahita Motazed Rad

Anahita is Visiting Senior Fellow in the Department of International Relations, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. Her research focuses on international politics and development in the Middle East, specifically in Iran. 

Susana is Professor of Environmental Economics, Academic Director of ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Summer School, and Associate of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.

Dr Dena Qaddumi

Dena is Fellow in City Design and Social Science at the Department of Sociology at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. Her research focuses on the materialization of revolution in cities.

Dr Mohamed Saleh

Mohamed is Associate Professor of Economic History at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. His research is focused on the Economic History of the Middle East and North Africa.

Dr Sara Salem

Sara is Assistant Professor at the Department of Sociology. Her work explores the connections between postcolonial theory and Marxism, with special attention to the context of Egypt.

Dr Hakan Sandal-Wilson

Hakan is Assistant Professor of Gender, Peace and Security at the Department of Gender Studies, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. His research critically interrogates gender and sexuality in relation to war, peace and conflict, as well as ethnicity, religion, and migration.

Dr Romola Sanyal

Romola is Associate Professor in Urban Geography at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. Her research focuses on the relationship between forced migration and urbanisation with a focus on India and Lebanon.

Dr Hakan Seckinelgin

Hakan is Associate Professor at the Department of Social Policy at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. His work focuses on both the epistemology and politics of international social policy.

Dr Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington

Jennifer is Assistant Professor of Social Psychology at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. Her research investigates the psychological impact of experiencing low socioeconomic status at times of rising inequality.

Hyun is Professor of Geography and Urban Studies at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. He is PI on the Kuwait Programme project 'Asian Capital and the Rise of Smart Urbanism in Kuwait'.

Dr Ganga Shreedhar

Ganga is Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. She is interested in how, when and why people take action – or fail to – to address complex global environmental social dilemmas.

Dr Gagan Sood

Gagan is Assistant Professor at the Department of International History at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. His main research interests lie in the Middle East and South Asia between the 17th and 19th centuries.

Dr Swenja Surminski

Swenja is Deputy Director and Head of Adaptation Research at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, and PI on a Kuwait Programme project on flood resilience in Kuwait.

Buğra is Visiting Fellow at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ IDEAS. His research focuses on Turkish foreign policy, emerging powers, and international conflict and cooperation. 

Dr Miriam Tresh

Miriam is Assistant Professorial Lecturer at the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. Her research looks at public perceptions and the psychological impact of Covid-19 in Libya.

Dr Mai Taha

Mai is an Assistant Professor in Human Rights at the Department of Sociology. Mai has written on international law and empire, human rights, labour movements, class and gender relations, and care work and social reproduction.

Dr Rim Turkmani

Rim is Research Fellow at the Conflict and Civil Society Research Unit at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. She directs the Syria conflict research programme at the Unit.

Professor James Walters

Jim is Professor in Practice in the Department of International Relations and leads the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Religion and Global Society research unit. He is active in interfaith dialogues across the Middle East and leads educational visits to Israel and Palestine that deepen students’ understanding of the religious dimensions of the conflict.

Dr Frederick Wojnarowski

Fred is British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Anthropology at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. Fred is interested in the political and economic anthropology and history of the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean, especially Jordan.