Zahra Abbasi

Zahra Abbasi is a PhD candidate and Lecturer at the University of Oslo, and a Visiting Predoctoral Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) in Berlin. Her research focuses on online-offline conceptualizations of mental health in contemporary Iran, blending approaches from comparative literature and science studies. At MPIWG, she collaborates with the Lise Meitner Research Group “China in the Global System of Science” (led by Dr. Anna L. Ahlers) and the Research Group “Practices of Validation in the Biomedical Sciences” (led by Dr. Lara Keuck).

Her academic background includes studies in comparative literature and care practices, with a particular interest in alternative mental health frameworks. She has presented and published on these themes, earning recognition through awards like the Sasakawa Young Leaders Award (2022 and 2023). Additionally, she serves on the board of the Junior Network for Migration and Intercultural Relations in Norway.

Her research explores intersections of biomedical validation, global science dynamics, and sociocultural narratives of health in Iran. While no specific articles are listed in the provided text, her work engages with transnational knowledge systems, practical knowledge, and institutional validation of psychological practices.