I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island, Associate Director of the the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, and the Director of the Security Forces, Rights, and Society Lab at URI. I am also a Research Fellow at the Gender and the Security Sector Lab at Cornell University. I received my PhD in political science from Binghamton University (SUNY) in 2022.
I study international relations and comparative politics, with a focus on the political economy of security, civil-military relations, and political violence — particularly how security forces shape and are shaped by economic, social, and political dynamics.
I use a variety of research methodologies including cross-national large-N analysis, qualitative and quantitative comparative case studies, survey and experimental designs, archival research, and interviews. From 2021 to the present, I have worked as a Predoctoral Fellow, Postdoctoral Fellow, and now Research Fellow at the GSS Lab at Cornell University, collaborating with security forces in Jordan, Bangladesh, Uganda, Uruguay, Cambodia, Fiji, and other countries. In partnership with the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance and UN Women, this work identifies institutional barriers within police and military organizations. Please refer to my ELSIE Initiative Research page for more information.
You can reach me at roya.izadi@uri.edu
Beyond the research
I am an avid hiker. I find peace and joy in the mountains. Whenever time allows, I escape to the trails to recharge, reflect, and challenge myself. Some of my favorites have been the Grand Teton, Mt Rainier, Pico do Ariero, Isola di Panarea, and the Italian Alps. I also enjoy skiing and running outdoors.
Grand Teton
Mt Rainier
Isola di Panarea
Pico do Ariero
Glacier National Park
Banff National Park
Isola di Vulcano
White Mountains
Watkins Glen, Ithaca