Nafees Hamid

Dr Nafees Hamid is a cognitive scientist of political violence, social fragmentation, and cohesion at King’s College London. He conducts psychology, neuroscience, and anthropological research with jihadists, white nationalists, conspiracists, and armed group members, as well as civilians.

He was one of the lead researchers on the first-ever brain imaging studies of jihadist supporters. He is the Co-PI/Research & Policy Director of the FCDO-funded XCEPT research programme at King’s College London, which looks at the role of trauma and mental health in pathways to peace versus violence in fragile and conflict affected states. The research he has conducted and directed has covered the US, Western Europe, the Balkans, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Morocco, South Sudan, and Colombia. He has advised many NGOs, inter-governmental organisations, and governments including on the national strategies for the rehabilitation of and reintegration of foreign fighters in Tunisia and Kosovo.

He has advised and briefed on CVE policies to many organisations including the US State and Defense Departments, the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development office, UK Home Office, UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Global Coalition, and the French Prime Minister’s office.