Her research interests are in comparative politics and political theory and focus on comparative relations between religion and state in the Muslim world. She is currently working on a monograph that analyzes the impact of contemporary Islamic thought and social movement activism on the transformation of authoritarian rule in Iran (1989–2005) and Indonesia (1974–98), and on an edited volume on new jurisprudential approaches to the question of government in Iran. Künkler is co-PI of the "Iran Social Science Data Project" funded by the Social Science Research Council . Ph.D. Columbia University.