Hi, I am Amir :)

I’m an applied scientist with a passion for exploring the intersections of machine learning, information retrieval, and social cybersecurity. My work focuses on developing innovative solutions to address societal challenges, with a strong emphasis on online safety, content moderation, and AI-driven technologies. By leveraging advanced machine learning, network science, and behavioural science, I aim to make technology more transparent, responsible, and impactful.

Currently, I work as a Senior Data Scientist at Ofcom, where I lead projects on search and recommender systems. My efforts contribute to creating safer online spaces by studying the nuanced interplay between algorithms, user behaviour, and societal norms. From building end-to-end search pipelines to developing harm-assessment metrics, my work bridges technical rigor and policy innovation.

My academic journey has been equally rewarding. I earned my Ph.D. from TU Delft, where I explored mechanisms such as recommender systems and bots that facilitate the circulation and spread of rumours and misinformation on social networks. I also designed computational solutions to counter their spread during crises. My research has been published in top-tier venues, including IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems, The Web Conference, ACM WSDM, Synthese, and the Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review. I’ve had the privilege of speaking at conferences, sharing insights on AI governance and the design of digital platforms to mitigate societal harms. 

Beyond academia and industry, I’m passionate about mentoring and sharing knowledge. Whether mentoring junior researchers and data scientists or answering community questions on Stack Overflow, I believe in the power of collaboration and learning. I also enjoy blogging on Medium, where I write about the intersection of data, algorithms, and society.

If you’re interested in my work, looking to collaborate, or need advice for PhD applications, feel free to reach out!