Department of Anthropology
University of California, Los Angeles

I'm Zia, Linguistic Anthropologist | Experience Researcher.

I’m a researcher at UCLA’s Department of Anthropology, where I’ve spent the past six years studying how cultural norms and identity shape community behaviors and needs. My work blends ethnographic insights with actionable strategies—3,400+ hours of fieldwork, interviews, and cross-functional collaborations have honed my ability to uncover what drives people and how systems can better serve them. 
 
I also sporadically work on Gilaki, a North Iranian language (my mother tongue).
My research interests in Gilaki are primarily in language ideologies, historical sociolinguistics, and language documentation and revitalization.
 
I have been awarded multiple prestigious fellowships and grants (see page Academia)