Introduction

Before joining Zayed University as an Assistant Professor at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, I was a Professor-Researcher at Narxoz University and Deputy Director of the Central Asia Institute for Strategic Studies based in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Prior to that, I worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the Eurasian Research Institute of Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh–Turkish University, where I contributed to Institute’s work on energy, economics, and security. I have experience engaging in a number of collaborative projects with the Canadian, German, Norwegian, U.S. and Turkish research institutions and leading two scientific expeditions “from the Glaciers to the Aral Sea”.

I hold a Ph.D. in global governance from Wilfrid Laurier University/ Balsillie School of International Affairs (Canada), an M.A. in international area studies from the University of Tsukuba (Japan), an M.A. in political science from the OSCE Academy in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and a B.A. (Hon.) in international law from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (Uzbekistan).

I have a track record of publications (journal articles, book chapters, reports, policy papers, etc.) and teaching experience in Canada, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.