He previously served as an Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, in addition to the Head of the Department of International Affairs at Qatar University. His areas of research focus are on the international relations and political economy of the Arab Gulf states, energy geopolitics, in addition to U.S. foreign policy towards the Gulf region. He has held research fellowships at the London School of Economics (LSE), Exeter University and also at the University of Durham. He received his undergraduate degree in Social and Political Science from the University of London, and his graduate degrees in International Relations from the University of Durham.