I am a Ph.D. candidate in sociocultural anthropology at the University of Alberta, specializing in death studies with a focus on Iran. I am privileged to be a recipient of the prestigious Killam Scholar award 2023 and the 2024 Vanier Graduate Student Scholarship, having been ranked first among 193 applicants. My research, conducted over six years of extensive fieldwork in Iran, explores two main themes: The Modernization of Death and The Politicization of Death in Iran. These studies aim to illuminate the dynamic interplay between death rituals and socio-political transformations within Iranian society. As an editor, I have collaborated with an interdisciplinary team of twenty-five experts across fields such as Sociology, Anthropology, History, Philosophy, Law, Art and Literature, Religion, and Architecture. Together, we produced the pioneering edited volume titled "Social Studies of Death in Iran," marking a significant contribution to the academic treatment of death and dying in the region. In my capacity as Iran’s ambassador to the Association for the Study of Death and Society (ASDS), I try to elevate the discourse on death in Iran to a global platform, focusing particularly on engaging Western academic circles. My work in this role includes delivering keynote speeches at international forums, including a notable presentation at the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath, UK. Complementing my academic research, my artistic expertise include proficiency in Wood Carving, Pastel Technique Painting, and Graphic Design. I am also deeply engaged in a project to produce a documentary exploring the theme of Martyrdom in Shia culture. My artistic works, including a series dedicated to remarkable Iranian women, have been exhibited at Isfahan University of Art, reflecting my commitment to blending academic inquiry with creative expression. Currently, I am working towards completing my dissertation titled "The Politics of Death in Contemporary Iran," aiming to further our understanding of the cultural, social, and political dimensions of death in modern contexts.

Anthropology

Iranian Studies

Islamic Studies

Persian

Iran

Death Studies

Ethnographic Fieldwork

Violence And Jihad

Persian (native)

English (fluent)

Arabic (elementary)