I am a researcher from Indonesia. I received my B.A. in International Affairs, with a focus on Middle East and Islamic politics, from Qatar University. This was further shaped by an M.A. in International Politics and a Ph.D in Politics from the University of Manchester in the UK, which I completed at the age of 26.

My research has revolved around the intricate dynamics of China-Indonesia-Middle East relations. During my studies in Qatar and the UK, I primarily focused on China's engagements with the Middle East. Nonetheless, upon completing my doctorate and returning to Indonesia, my research branched into two main streams: The evolving ties between China and Indonesia, and Indonesia's expanding cooperation with the Middle East—while still maintaining a strategic lens on China-Middle East affairs.

I currently serve as the Director of the China-Indonesia Desk and the Indonesia-MENA Desk at the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) in Jakarta.

At the same time, I am also a research affiliate at the Middle East Institute-National University of Singapore and a visiting researcher at Busan University of Foreign Studies, where I was a research professor between 2022 and 2025.

Previously, I served as an assistant professor at Universitas Islam Indonesia and as a research associate at Jakarta-based Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF). I have taught at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Airlangga, Bina Nusantara University, Universitas Paramadina, and Universitas Kristen Indonesia.

Between 2022 and 2024, I was also an associate at the London School of Economics' IDEAS.

Additionally, I have undertaken consulting assignments for a range of organisations, including Oxfam, USAID, Wikistrat, Gulf State Analytics, Freedom House, Indonesia's Ministry of Finance, Grapevine Asia Partners, Doublethink Lab, Dialectica, among others. I am also regularly quoted in leading newspapers, including New York Times, South China Morning Post, Nikkei Asia Review, Voice of America, Al Jazeera, Radio Free Asia, and others.

In recognition of my scholarship, I received the Outstanding Research award from Qatar National Research Fund in 2015 and was named Most Productive Author by The Conversation Indonesia in both 2020 and 2022.

Between 2014-2019, I contributed to a writing project examining global Muslim affairs around the world, while from 2015 to 2020, I participated in a research initiative on Indonesia's socio-economic landscape. These projects were funded by Qatar and UK-based institutions respectively. Their findings, published as media articles, are listed on this site.

As a person with disability, I am also deeply engaged in disability-related issues. Apart from occassionally writing on the subject, I lead Sekolabilitas, an Indonesian-based NGO committed to ensuring children with disabilities have access to quality education. I have shared my personal journey in a book written in Indonesian, along with a summarized version available in both Indonesian and in English.

Since 2020, however, I have chosen to focus exclusively on writing, interviews, and projects aligned my core research interests.

In my free time, I enjoy hiking and computer programming.

I am available for commissioned and, on occassion, pro bono engagements—including research collaborations, consultancy, and public speaking. For inquiries, I can be reached at muhzulfikar AT gmail DOT com.

I maintain a limited social media presence, primarily through LinkedIn and Medium.