Mohd Amirul Asraf bin Othman is a PhD student and research scholar at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (CAIS) at The Australian National University. He holds a Master's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy, with his dissertation examining the Malaysia-North Korea relationship in the context of Kim Jong Nam's death on Malaysian soil. His professional experience in Iran has deeply influenced his research focus, particularly on Iran's rising influence in the Middle East.

Amirul has presented his research at various international conferences, including Belgrade (Serbia), Le Havre (France), and Lancaster (UK). He was also selected to attend a prestigious two-week Summer School on research methodology at Syracuse University, New York. His academic pursuits encompass a range of topics such as Middle East Security Studies, Regionalism, Terrorism, and Extremism, alongside the wider fields of Political Science and International Relations, all with an emphasis on the Middle East. His scholarly work includes several analyses published by the Australian Institute of International Affairs, and he is contributing a book section on Iran-Armenia relations, which is anticipated for publication soon.