BIO

I am Professor of Comparative and Global Sociology at Nanyang Technological University Singapore, where I have been since 2012. From 2023 to 2024, I was Professor and Malaysia Chair of Islam in Southeast Asia at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., where I am now a faculty affiliate. My appointment at Georgetown University is my third in the US. In 2013, I was Visiting Assistant Professor at New York University and The Graduate Center (City University of New York). In 2018, I was a Fulbright Visiting Associate Professor at the University of California Los Angeles. 

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I won the Nanyang Research Award in 2017 for being one of the three best young professors university-wide. That same year, I was also named the inaugural Western Sydney University International Alumni of the Year for outstanding contributions to the field.

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My writings reflect an enduring interest in the sociology of religion, from the vantage point of comparative sociology. I use my studies on Muslims as entry points to explore larger social processes and have examined the social realities of Muslims living in diverse environments.

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I am the author of eight books. Collectively, my last five books examine the intersections of popular culture, piety, and state management.

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My articles have appeared in various journals such as the Journal of Sociology, Journal of Historical Sociology,  International Sociology, Deviant Behavior, Journal of Poverty, and Citizenship Studies.

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My works have been used as course texts in numerous reputable universities in Asia, the United States,

Europe, and Australia.