Hello! I am a PhD student in the Political Science Department at the University of California, Berkeley. My research focusses on peace processes and international crisis bargaining in the wider Middle East.

• the internal politics of armed groups,
• Women, Peace and Security norms, and
• peace negotiations in the post-Cold War period.

Prior to attending Berkeley, I worked in operations and policy for the conflicts in Afghanistan and Yemen between 2020 and 2025. I was a Research Fellow at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, and a Research Analyst with UNESCO. I am currently a Predoctoral Fellow with GIAS at Berkeley and a Fellow with the Centre on Armed Groups.

I am happy to engage with people working on issues of shared concern. You can contact me at stariq@berkeley.edu.