Academic interests
Heal thyself: Citizens and the Construction of Knowledges of Care in Contemporary Iran.
My dissertation focuses on three interwoven areas germane to knowledges of care in contemporary Iran: the notion of the healthy body and mind as identity markers, the conceptualizations of social responsibility as care advocacy; and the construction process of the concept “competent citizen.” Given the rapid increase in the Iranian diaspora since early 2010s, among other factors, I study the development of new health norms and self-care practices via nonofficial (online) platforms, along with the emergence of celebrity psychologists. Key to this project is unpacking the motivations and dynamics at work in such spaces like social media, and popular culture.
Courses taught
- <PER1010 – Persisk A – Universitetet i Oslo (uio.no)>
- <PER1020 – Persisk B – Universitetet i Oslo (uio.no)>
- <PER3020 – Persisk F – Universitetet i Oslo (uio.no)>
- <guest lecturer PER3010 – Persian E – University of Oslo (uio.no)>
Background
I am PhD candidate and lecturer at the University of Oslo and a Visiting Predoctoral Fellow at MPIWG, 2022–2023. I have a background in comparative literature and experience in care practices. My PhD project pertains to understanding online-offline conceptualizations of mental health in contemporary Iran. At the MPIWG I am hosted by the interdisciplinary Lise Meitner Research Group “China in the Global System of Science” (Dr Anna L. Ahlers) and the Max Planck Research Group “Practices of Validation in the Biomedical Sciences” (Dr Lara Keuck). I have published and presented my work on alternative forms of mental health. I am also a board member of the Junior Network for Migration and Intercultural Relations in Norway.
Awards
2021 Long Research Trip Grant (Faculty of Humanities, UiO)
2022 The Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowships Fund (SYLFF)