Nikolay Kozhanov is a Research Associate Professor at the Gulf Studies Center of Qatar University. His research focuses on the geopolitics of Gulf energy, Russian foreign policy in the Middle East, as well as Iran’s economy and international relations. Dr. Kozhanov has been a Visiting Fellow at a number of leading international think-tanks including Chatham House, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Carnegie Moscow Center. Nikolay holds a PhD in International Economics and Economic Security from St. Petersburg State University (2010).