Post-Doctoral Fellows
CIK is currently providing post-doctoral fellowships to qualified candidates. Please see the names and areas of specialization of CIK Post-Doctoral Fellows below.
I. Post-Doctoral Fellow: Mourad Aakiri, Ph.D.
Dr. Aakiri is an academic and finance professional specializing in international business, cross- border mergers and acquisitions (M&As), and financial systems. He holds a Ph.D. in International Business with a finance concentration from Southern New Hampshire University. His teaching experience includes undergraduate and graduate-level courses focused on global strategy, finance, and data analysis. At the CYRUS Institute of Knowledge, he works on strategic projects that support international academic partnerships and funding initiatives, contributing to institutional growth and research-driven collaboration. Dr. Aakiri's professional background includes roles in banking, public service, and education, where he has worked on financial strategy, project management, and community support. His academic research explores emerging market firms’ value creation intricacies through acquisitions through cross-border M&As, with studies being prepared for journals such as the Journal of World Business and the Journal of International Business Studies. He also develops software for financial modeling and data analysis using tools such as Python and SQL. Fluent in Arabic, French, English, and Spanish, he combines international insight with technical and analytical skills to support students, institutions, and research communities.
- Advisor: Dr. Nader Asgary, Cyrus Institute of Knowledge (CIK)
- Research Topic: Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Emerging Market Multinationals, and International Corporate Finance. Building on existing literature in international business, this research explores how financial institutions, global economic policies, and managerial practices shape cross-border acquisitions—particularly those by emerging market multinationals venturing into advanced economies. The aim is to identify strategies and frameworks that optimize value creation while adhering to sustainable financial practices.
- Overall Purpose: Contribute to scholarship in IB and Corporate Finance—specifically within the theme of cross- border M&A—by leveraging quantitative data management, resource optimization strategies, and strategic insights from emerging markets. The goal is to produce practical, high-impact research outcomes that inform both academic discourse and real-world decision-making in financial institutions and multinational corporations.
Key Responsibilities:
Conduct Original Research
- Investigate strategic motives, market reactions, and institutional factors influencing cross-border M&A deals.
- Manage and analyze large-scale quantitative data, employing tools like Python, SQL, and SAS Eventus for robust event-study methodologies (Southern New Hampshire University Research Guidelines [3]).
Advance Scholarly Mission of CIK
- Produce peer-reviewed journal articles and conference presentations.
- Collaborate with CIK team members and external partners, supporting the mission to foster innovative research in international business.
Curriculum Development and Teaching Enhancement
- Integrate research findings into academic courses on international business and finance.
- Mentor diverse student populations, promoting critical thinking and evidence- based decision-making.
Strategic Partnerships and Networking
- Foster collaborations with educational institutions and industry stakeholders to explore new research opportunities, funding, and practice-oriented projects.
- Align projects with relevant government agencies and non-profits to support small business development in emerging markets.
Grant Writing and Fundraising
- Identify external funding opportunities in international business and corporate finance.
- Contribute to the writing of grant proposals, ensuring alignment with institutional strategies and broader societal needs.
Project Key Research Issues: Identifying various dimensions between institutional advancement through policies, governance and political processes, and the internationalization of emerging market multinationals. What implications those institutional environments hold for firms, what impact the government has on the internationalization and how does that play a role in the international regime.
Resources Needed:
- Funding for Postdoctoral/Research Fellowship To enable comprehensive data collection, advanced software, conference travel, and publication fees.
II. Post-Doctoral Fellow: Rozita Ghaffari Fard, Ph.D.
- Advisor: Dr. Nader Asgary
- Research Topic: The Role of Institutions in Advancing Sustainable Development
- Overall Purpose: Contribute to quality research and knowledge creation in the area of International Business in accordance with the mission of Cyrus Institute of Knowledge and with the guidance of Dr. Nader Asgary.
Key Responsibilities:
- Carry out research and further increase expertise in various areas of International Business including Business Strategy, Institutions and Governance, Global Strategy and Environment of Business, Organization and Cultural Issues, International Business and Cultural Issues, Innovation and Development, Sustainable Development, Strategy and Development, Entrepreneurship, Small Business Management, and Marketing.
- Develop research questions within International Business context, analyze data from a variety of sources, and generate original ideas by building on existing concepts.
- Advance the scholarly mission of the Cyrus Institute of Knowledge by producing relevant publications in peer-reviewed academic journals, presenting papers at international conferences, and leading seminars to disseminate research findings.
- Explore the ongoing changes in the International Business research at academic level with the purpose of advancing research, developing new theories, and suggesting policies for executives and institutions.
- Collaborate with the CIK colleagues and support the organization internally as appropriate to the research, while actively developing appropriate external contacts and networks relevant to the project and to future collaboration opportunities.
- Identify external funding opportunities and contribute to the writing of grant proposals and funding applications.
Resources Needed:
- Funding to support postdoc
Expected Outcomes:
- Publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international conferences and seminars
- Improvement of research competencies
- Driving policy recommendations for public and private institutions, Development of framework and theories relevant to small businesses
III. Post-Doctoral Fellow: Danijela Bjelogrlic, Ph.D.
- Advisor: Dr. Nader Asgary & Dr. Dina Frutos-Bencze
- Research Topic: The Role of Institutions, Governance and Development of Multinational Corporations in Emerging Markets
- Overall Purpose: As a team member of the Cyrus Institute of Knowledge contribute quality research outputs and conceptual support in the area of International Business to projects. With the guidance of Dr. Nader Asgary, and Dr. Dina Frutos-Benzce, and within the bounds of the respective program mandates and cross-cutting thematic area of International Business, the Post-Doctoral Fellow will abide to following:
Key Responsibilities:
- Conceptualize and conduct research activities and field projects in support of CIK’s programs to ensure the mainstreaming of institute’s vision in the field of international business, ensuring thematic consistency and relevance to the program outcomes.
- Conduct studies of related literature and research to support the design and implementation of projects and development of policy documents, ensuring conceptual relevance, comprehensiveness, and currency of information.
- Write and publish articles in peer-reviewed journals/digests that highlights relevant areas (such as Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, Corporate Finance and Financial Markets, Global Strategy and Environment of Business, Organization and Cultural Issues, Leadership and Cultural Characteristics, Institutions, Governance, and Development, International Business and Cultural Issues, International Economics and Finance, Innovation and Development, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Strategy and Development, Women and Business Development) as they apply to the areas of International Business ensuring consistency with the highest standards of academic publication and showcasing the CIK’s work in the subject area apart from its leadership.
- Communicate status and outcomes of research initiatives and policy projects to Program/Project team ensuring that relevant information and issues in the implementation of projects are captured in as comprehensive and timely manner as possible.
- Develop collaborative links with personnel in core program areas to gain exposure to research activities and approaches in order to determine areas of thematic relevance to Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, Corporate Finance and Financial Markets, Global Strategy and Environment of Business, Organization and Cultural Issues, Leadership and Cultural Characteristics, Institutions, Governance, and Development, International Business and Cultural Issues, International Economics and Finance, Innovation and Development, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Strategy and Development, Women and Business Development and conversely build knowledge of as they apply to the research areas of International Business.
- Utilize appropriate and current research techniques to ensure integrity of peer-reviewed publications, comprehensive documentation, and replicability of methodological approaches.
- Design and organize databases along project frameworks and research design that support overall research management, including the monitoring and evaluation of project inputs, actions, and outcomes, as well as the subsequent integration of these databases to other databanks.
- Identify areas of improvement within the research structure using integrated management approaches in pursuit of capacity building/strengthening and the preservation of the rigor in research studies.
Project Key Research Issues: Identifying various dimensions between institutional advancement through policies, governance and political processes, and the internationalization of emerging market multinationals. What implications those institutional environments hold for firms, what impact the government has on the internationalization and how does that play a role in the international regime.
Resources Needed:
- Funding to support postdoc
Expected Outcomes:
- Publications in per-reviewed journals and presentations at international conferences, organizations, and associations.
- Improvement of research competencies
- Development of framework and theories relevant to emerging markets and MNCs.