Sabri Ates

Sabri Ates is an Associate Professor of History at Southern Methodist University (SMU), affiliated with the Dedman College. He specializes in Ottoman-Iranian relations, Kurdish history, and borderlands studies. His work examines imperial dynamics, ethnic nationalism, and sectarianism in the Middle East. Ates holds a Ph.D. from New York University (2006), preceded by degrees from Middle East Technical University and the University of Ankara.

Research focuses on the Ottoman-Iranian borderlands (1843-1914), Kurdish statehood aspirations, and the role of sectarianism in regional politics. His current project investigates Sheikh Abdulqadir Nehri’s efforts to establish an independent Kurdistan (1870s-1925), using multilingual primary sources. Additional research includes articles on the 1639 Treaty of Zohab and corpse traffic as a marker of imperial rivalry.

Ates has received significant recognition including the NEH Fellowship (2017-18), MESA Dissertation Prize (2006), and multiple grants from SMU and international institutions. His publications include the acclaimed book *The Ottoman-Iranian Borderlands: Making a Boundary* (Cambridge, 2013) and articles in *Iranian Studies* and *Comparative Studies of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East*.

Teaching and academic service include the HOPE Teaching Award (2006) and contributions to public humanities through course development grants. His research bridges Ottoman, Iranian, and Kurdish histories, emphasizing trans-imperial interactions and marginalized voices in border regions.