Dr. Katayoun Kishi is the Head of Data Science at ACLED. She oversees the management and publication of ACLED data, advises on new approaches to improving data collection and management, and leads ACLED’s data science initiatives.

Katayoun’s areas of expertise include computational social science, data management, conflict studies and comparative politics. She has 10 years of experience in applying quantitative methodologies to humanitarian and political research, including at the United States Institute of Peace and Pew Research Center.

She holds a PhD in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland with a concentration in comparative politics and quantitative methodology. Her primary research interests are conflict forecasting and its use in humanitarian early warning systems.