About Me 

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I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Yale-NUS College, and have a courtesy appointment at the National University of Singapore (NUS)'s Department of Political Science. I was a Governance and Local Development fellow, a visiting Assistant Professor with The MacMillan Center at Yale University, and a Middle East Initiative (MEI) post-doctoral fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. I obtained my PhD in Politics from Princeton University. The son of a diplomat, I spent parts of my childhood in Kuwait, France and Bahrain before returning to the US for college.

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I am a scholar of the political economy of development, with a primary focus on the Arab world. My scholarship examines two developmental challenges in particular: limited economic integration, and gender inequality. Pairing regional expertise with qualitative and quantitative methods, my work exposes the social, historical and international underpinnings of these barriers to prosperity in the Arab world, and beyond.   

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​My research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals. My book, Mirages of Reform: The Politics of Elite Protectionism in the Arab World was published with Cornell University Press (2025). I also lead the Small States in Peace and War Research Forum. Below are some of my current works in progress. 

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Works in Progress

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​​​​"The Costs of Exit: Female Labor Migration and Gender Equality in Countries of Origin," with Lim Tian Jiao and Thiti Thitipankul (Under Review).

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"The Commander's Daughter: Dynastic Ties and Voter Support for Female Candidates in Post-Conflict States," with Risa Toha (Under Review).

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"The Politics of Anti-Corruption Crackdowns in Jordan," with Sean Yom. ​​​​​

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"Civil Conflict and Transnational Identity," with Matthew Nanes and Risa Toha.

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"Electorate Size and Female Representation: Evidence from State Legislative Assemblies in India," with Isabella Gupta. 

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"In the Shadows? Informal Enterprise and the State," with Kristin Fabbe and Allison Hartnett. 

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