My current passion is exploring how militant jihad groups use 'soft' culture (poetry, literature, song) and harness local grievances, not only to recruit, but – equally crucially – to win toleration in the broader community. My research is mainly focused on Arabic-language materials. I spend significant time in the field, particularly in war-torn Yemen, where I have struck up strong relationships with various tribes and follow the evolution of the ongoing war closely. However, my research did not always revolve around why terrorists write poetry!

I joined Pembroke in 2018, where I serve as a Tutorial Fellow in Ecology. In addition to the vibrant conversations with other academics and staff in college, I deeply enjoy interacting with my undergraduate and postgraduate students.

I discovered Psychology in my third year at Australian National University and delighted in the breadth of the subject. I vividly remember the joy I felt after my first Cognitive Psychology lecture.

It took a long time for me to realise that I am a philosophical theologian. My first degree was Computer Science at Exeter University. After that I worked as a software engineer for the BBC. Then I went to Vancouver to complete a Masters in biblical studies, then to Cambridge for a systematic theology MPhil. 

The terms are so short and there is so much to do that time really does fly, and you are often left with a feeling of wanting to do more – to find out more about your subject, to explore the city more, to meet more people.

I decided to apply to Pembroke after the open day – I had visited a number of different colleges but none of them had quite the same welcoming feeling, a feeling which was cemented again during my time at interviews, where I met many more wonderful people and was able to experience more of daily life in college.

Having worked with Pembroke College Oxford for several months, I can without hesitation say that their ability to cater to the varying needs of my guests has been outstanding. They have risen to the challenge of various dietary needs, allergies, and ad hoc requests without hesitation or disruption to the program. We have an unconventional relationship in that we have created a program that was not previously implemented and they have been superb in their delivery and execution of the overall needs.