About & CV
A short biography and academic, teaching, research and administrative record.
Farhad Bayani is Assistant Professor of Sociology and Head of the Department of Science and Technology Studies at the Institute for Cultural, Social and Civilizational Studies, Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, Iran. He received his PhD in economic sociology and development from the University of Tabriz and spent his doctoral visiting period at the University of Alberta, Canada, under the supervision of Rob Shields.
His research focuses on critical realism, the sociology of science and knowledge, the sociology of religion and the philosophy of the social sciences. Since 2024 he has been a research fellow on a Tokyo University of Foreign Studies project on everyday forms of ethnicity and religiosity in Kurdistan (Iran, Iraq and Turkey).
Education
- Postdoctoral research (2017–2021): “A sociological explanation of Islamic fundamentalism in Kurdistan”, Kharazmi University, with the University of Amsterdam; funded by the Iran National Science Foundation.
- PhD in Economic Sociology and Development (2013–2017), University of Tabriz. Dissertation: “Recognizing the Structure of Social Reality” (excellent, 19.85/20).
- Doctoral visiting researcher (2016–2017), Department of Sociology, University of Alberta, Canada, supervised by Rob Shields; member of the Space and Culture research group.
- MA in Social Science Research (2008–2010), Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.
- BA in Physical Education and Sport Sciences (2004–2008), Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University.
Research interests
Critical realism, sociology of science and knowledge, sociology of religion, science and religion, social theory, philosophy of the social sciences, quantitative and qualitative methodology, social problems.
International research
- Research Fellow, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (2024–2027): “Everyday forms of ethnicity and religiosity in Kurdistan: comparative studies on the social organization of cultural difference and cross-border interactions in Iran, Iraq and Turkey”; PI: Prof. Yasuyuki Matsunaga.
Positions
- Head, Department of Science and Technology Studies, Institute for Cultural and Social Studies (since 2026)
- Director of Publications, Institute for Cultural, Social and Civilizational Studies (2024–2026)
- Head, Sociology of Knowledge, Science and Technology Group, Iranian Sociological Association
Teaching
- Schools of Sociology (PhD), Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran
- Contemporary Sociological Theory and Qualitative Research Methods (MA), Baqir al-Olum University
- Research Methods and Philosophy of Social Science (MA), Shahed University
- Cultural Planning (MA), University of Kashan
Peer review
- Politics, Religion & Ideology (Taylor & Francis), since 2025
- International Sociology (Sage), since 2020
- Studies in Religion / Sciences religieuses (Sage), since 2020
- Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (Routledge), since 2019
Honours
- Distinguished Researcher, Institute for Cultural, Social and Civilizational Studies (2023)
- Ranked first in the PhD cohort; member of the Office of Talented Students, University of Tabriz