Ubaid Ullah Karimi is the 2024-25 Stephanie G. Neuman Fellow in Comparative Defense Studies and a member of the International Fellow’s Program at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) He is an M.I.A. candidate with a concentration in International Security Policy, and driven by the prolonged war and conflicts in Afghanistan, a specialization in International Conflict Resolution. Karimi’s aim is to acquire the skills necessary for future peace-building and development initiatives in his home country.

During his studies at SIPA, Karimi has served as a special research assistant to Institute member Professor Stephen Biddle, contributing to a project that examined the current crisis in Afghanistan and its impact on regional security and stability. He has also interned with the International Rescue Committee in New York.

Before joining SIPA in the fall of 2023, Karimi worked extensively in the humanitarian and emergency response fields with various NGOs, INGOs, and UN agencies in Afghanistan. He managed and supervised multiple humanitarian and peacebuilding projects, including his last project with UNICEF, which focused on building community-based schools in the rural southern and northern regions of Afghanistan.

Karimi’s research interests include the conflicts in Afghanistan and their security threats to the region. He is fluent in Dari, Pashto, English, Urdu, and possesses intermediate proficiency in Arabic and Hindi. His hobbies include chess, reading, athletics, and exploring new cities.