25.07.2025 The research group welcomes two undergraduate visiting researchers from University of Texas at Dallas

From June to August 2025, the Economics of the Middle East Research Group of the Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies (CNMS) was joined by two undergraduate students from the University of Texas at Dallas, Unaiza Khakoo and Tyler Crivella. Both served as research assistants under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Mohammad Reza Farzanegan and Dr. Sven Fischer. The trans-Atlantic apprenticeship brought new insights into prominent research areas, new learnings for international cooperation, and new friendships.

Unaiza Khakoo is a final year undergraduate studying finance and economics with an interest in public policy. During her time in Marburg, Ms Khakoo collaborated with the researchers of the Economics of the Middle East Research Group to deepen her knowledge of economics in the Middle East and North Africa region by assisting in draft refinement support and article collection on topics such as the impact of sanctions on environmental crime.

Tyler Crivella is currently a political science undergraduate with a concentration in legal issues and communication studies. Mr Crivella crucially assisted the team with paper-drafting consultation and proofreading of research papers. Together, with the researchers of the Economics of the Middle East Research Group, they spoke frequently about developments in and around the Middle East and North Africa region.

Ms Khakoo and Mr Crivella acknowledge and thank the staff and administration at both the Hobsen Wildenthal Honors College and Phillips-Universität Marburg, including Prof. Dr. Donal Skinner, Prof. Dr. Sascha Mölls, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Reza Farzanegan, and Dr. Sven Fischer, for the opportunity to live, learn, and contribute at the CNMS.

The two visiting research assistants also presented their findings to the University of Texas at Dallas’ Summer Platform for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) virtually. Both members would like to thank the Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP) for providing funding, arranging accommodations, and guiding placement at the Phillips-Universität Marburg.