Dr. Charlie Pearson is an Assistant Professor in the College of Security and Global Studies at the American University in the Emirates. His expertise lies in International Relations, Human Rights Law, and Security Studies, with a particular focus on maritime security, migration politics, and conflict management. He has developed a distinctive research agenda that bridges law, politics, and security strategy, with an emphasis on the governance of migration in the Mediterranean and broader questions of zonation strategy in international security.

Dr. Pearson holds a PhD in International Relations from Queen’s University Belfast, funded by the ESRC Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership. He also earned an LLM in Human Rights Law and a BA in International Relations, complemented by a Postgraduate Certificate in Social Science Research Methods. His academic achievements have been recognized with competitive research grants and awards, including the Organizer’s Prize for Best Presentation at the Centre for Port and Maritime History Annual Conference (Liverpool, 2023).

His research is supported by prestigious funding and has been presented internationally, with publications appearing in the International Journal of Maritime Crime and Security and further manuscripts under review in leading journals. Dr. Pearson’s recent projects explore the intersections of maritime law, search-and-rescue operations, and aerial surveillance in contested security zones, as well as the role of state and non-state actors in European border management.

Alongside his research, Dr. Pearson has extensive teaching and academic experience. He has lectured and convened courses across Politics and International Relations, including International Conflict Management, Peace and Conflict Studies, Strategic Thought, and European Politics. His teaching approach emphasizes inclusivity, student engagement, and linking theoretical frameworks to real-world challenges. He has also contributed to curriculum design at the postgraduate level and supervised student research across undergraduate and graduate programs.