Aakash, Muhammad Kashif – Curriculum Vitae

PhD Candidate | Disability and Rehabilitation Research

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Research Summary

Researcher in disability and rehabilitation studies with expertise in qualitative and mixed-methods research. My work explores lived experiences of disability, health systems, and social inclusion through frameworks such as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). I utilize diverse methodologies including in-depth interviews, survey research, and systematic reviews to examine disability and rehabilitation practice among health professionals and communities across international settings spanning South Asia, Europe and Middle East.

Education

PhD Candidate | Public Administration and Innovation for Disability and Social Inclusion, Universita degli Studi della Campania, “Luigi Vanvitelli” Naples, Italy, Dec 2023 – Nov 2026

  • Degree Completion: Thesis submission (Sept. 2026) thesis defense (anticipated Nov 2026)
  • Funding: Fully Funded PNRR doctoral scholarship – Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Ministerial Decree DM 118/2023, M4C1 – Inv.4.1(EU NextGenerationEU)
  • Dissertation: Integrating Evidence: Enhancing treatment outcomes in individuals with disabilities through Systematic Reviews and Qualitative Research
  • Research focus: Disability and Rehabilitation research conducted within a national doctorate program, with primary research activities at Universita Politecnica delle Marche, UNIVPM

Supervisory Panel:

  • Coordinator: Prof. Francesca Gimigliano, Professor, Luigi Vanvitelli
  • Advisor: Prof. Maria Gabriella Ceravolo, Professor, UNIVPM
  • Co-Advisor: Prof. Marianna Capecci, Professor, UNIVPM

M.Phil (Master of Philosophy) in Public Policy, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad, Pakistan, Sep 2019 – Nov 2021

BSc (Hons) (Bachelor of Sciences with Honors) in Agriculture, Major: Rural Development, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan, Jan 2015 – Apr 2019

  • Grade: 3.30 (4.0),
  • Foundational training in rural development and community-based fieldwork informed my approach to participatory research methods.

Visiting Abroad Period

Visiting Research Scholar | Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Türkiye, Oct 2024 – Mar 2025

  • Research Projects:
  • Living Beyond Functioning: A Qualitative Exploration of lived experiences, resilience, and participation in individuals with cerebral palsy
  • Exploring the role of digital and assistive Technologies in enhancing social inclusion for children with disabilities: A Systematic Review
  • Advisor: Prof. Resa Aydin, Professor, Istanbul University
  • Co-Advisor: Prof. Nalan Capan, Professor, Istanbul University

Research Interests

  • Lived experiences of disability and chronic illness
  • Family and caregiver experiences in health contexts
  • Rehabilitation and social participation using the ICF framework
  • Qualitative and mixed-methods health research
  • Health systems and disability inclusion

Research Experience

Independent Researcher, Self Employed, Islamabad Pakistan, Mar 2022 – Dec 2023

  • Pursued independent policy and development research following completion of M. Phil
  • Presented thesis research at the 2nd Annual General Conference, IBA Karachi (Mar 2022)
  • Developed a focused research agenda in disability, health systems, and social inclusion, leading to selection for a fully funded PNRR doctoral scholarship at an Italian university (2023)

Research Assistant, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad, Pakistan, Jan 2021 – Mar 2022

  • Advisors:
  • Nadeem ul Haque, Vice Chancellor, PIDE
  • Nasir Iqbal, Associate Professor, PIDE
  • Zehra Gardezi, Assistant Professor, PIDE
  • Worked on multiple policy research projects involving survey design, field data collection, and quantitative analysis using STATA. Projects covered topics including state-owned enterprises, SME development programs, urban mobility and traffic management, and public health insurance policy.
  • Conducted quantitative data analysis using STATA and supported qualitative data analysis.
  • Designed field surveys and interview protocols, supervised field teams, and contributed to policy reports and briefs for national development projects funded by international organizations.
  • Analytical outputs contributed to policy briefs and reports submitted to national and international stakeholders including USAID-funded development programs.

Teaching Assistant, School of Public Policy, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad, Pakistan, Sep 2020 – Feb 2021

  • Advisor: Nasir Iqbal, Associate Professor, PIDE
  • Course: Public Policy Analysis
  • Assisted in teaching undergraduate classes in public policy analysis.
  • Conducted tutorial sessions and facilitated discussions on selected course topics.
  • Supported assessment activities including grading assignments and examinations.
  • Provided academic support to students and coordinated course logistics with the instructor.
  • Supported approximately 18 undergraduate students per semester in developing applied policy analysis skills.

Research

  1. Aakash, M.K. et al. Living Beyond Functioning: A Qualitative Exploration of lived experiences, resilience, and participation in individuals with cerebral palsy.
    Under Review at Child: Care, Health and Development.
  2. Aakash MK, Capecci M, Gimigliano F, and Ceravolo MG (2026) Knowledge and use of the international classification of functioning, disability and health: a cross-sectional survey among health professionals in Pakistan. Front. Rehabil. Sci. 7:1786216. Doi:10.3389/fresc.2026.1786216. Read here
  • Aakash, M.K. et al. Exploring the role of digital and assistive Technologies in enhancing social inclusion for children with disabilities: A Systematic Review. Manuscript in preparation. (Data extraction and risk of bias assessment completed).
  • Aakash, M.K. et al. Assessing global Knowledge and Application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) among health and rehabilitation professionals and policy makers. Manuscript in preparation. (Data collection ongoing across 60 plus countries).
  • Knowledge and Use of ICF for health needs assessment and rehabilitation: The Case of Pakistan (Results published in a conference at SIMFER conference at Padua, and ISPRM25 at Marrakech, (under review in journal publication))
  • Living Beyond Limitations: A Qualitative Exploration of Lived Experience, Resilience, and Participation in Individuals with Cerebral Palsy (under review in journal publication)
  • Exploring the Role of Digital and Assistive Technologies in enhancing social inclusion for children with disabilities: A Systematic Review (manuscript writing)
  1. Attended a Winter School, LIFE Winter School on Health and Well-being at University of Lucerne, Switzerland from February 17 to 19, 2026.
  1. Oral Presentation, in the 25th European Congress of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine from 23-26 March, 2026 at Krakow, Poland. Conference Proceedings Link: https://esprm2026.com/program/, Presentation: Watch Presentation
  2. Poster Presentation in 19th ISPRM World Congress from Nov 03-07, 2025, at Marrakech, Morocco.
    Poster: Knowledge and use of ICF for health needs assessment and rehabilitation: The Case of Pakistan
  3. Poster Presentation in Congress 52° Congresso Nazionale SIMFER “La scienza riabilitativa e l’impegno nel territorio per una nuova etica della riabilitazione”, ha valutato ed ha ACCETTATO from 6-9 October at Padua. Poster: Knowledge and Use of ICF for Health needs assessment and rehabilitation: The Case of Pakistan
  4. Poster Presentation in 2nd Annual General Conference by the School of Economics and Social Sciences on Development: Discourses and Critiques at Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, Pakistan (Mar 2022). Poster: The Economic Cost of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs): A Market Based Solution
  5. Poster Presentation in 35th Annual General Meeting of the Pakistan Society for Development Economists (PSDE) at Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar, Pakistan (Nov 2021). Poster: The Economic Cost of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs): A Market Based Solution
  1. Neuro-rehab Wednesday Seminar Series – Neurorehabilitation Clinic, Department of Neurological Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy on March 04, 2026. Presentation: Beyond Function: Everyday life and resilience among individuals with cerebral palsy: Evidence from Turkiye at Ancona, Italy on March 04, 2026
  2. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University UNIVPM, Ancona, Italy on April 17, 2025. Presentation: Navigating Daily life of Cerebral Palsy: A Qualitative Study of Lived Experience and Resilience (Preliminary findings)
  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkiye on March 25, 2025. Presentation: Navigating Daily life of Cerebral Palsy: A Qualitative Study of Lived Experience and Resilience (Preliminary findings)
  • Conducted field-based research across multiple policy and development studies in Pakistan, including projects on urban mobility, informal economy, SME development, and public health interventions.
  • Designed and implemented surveys and semi-structured interviews, coordinated field teams, and supervised primary data collection.
  • Managed data cleaning and preparation using STATA, and contributed to analysis and reporting.
  • Participated in research projects implemented with organizations such as the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics and United States Agency for International Development.

The Economic Cost of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs): A Market Based Solution (Thesis Defense Date: November 19, 2021). Thesis submitted to School of Social Sciences, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.

Supervisor: Prof. Nasir Iqbal, Associate Professor, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.
Internal Examiner: Dr. Mahmood Khalid, Senior Research Economist, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.
External Examiner: Prof. Waheed Choudary, Associate Professor, Quaid -e- Azam University Islamabad.

1. Sehat Sahulat Program, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (2022), (unpublished research assistantship final report)

2. The Economic Cost of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs): A Market Based Solution, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (2021), (unpublished MPhil thesis policy outcomes)

3. Out of School Children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (2019), (unpublished course assignment)

1. State-Owned Enterprises

2. Sehat Sahulat Program

3. Traffic Management and Congestion Mitigation: Introduction of Paid Parking Policy in Islamabad

4. Multiplier effect of USAID Intervention in Small and Medium Enterprise Analysis using Input-Output Model

5. Revitalization of Street Economy in Pakistan: The Case Study of Islamabad

6. Impact of Price Change on behavior of Tobacco Consumption

7.  Speed Literacy Program-SLP

Research Publications Opinions in Newspapers

Out of School Children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A Policy Brief

Skills

Technical Proficiencies:

  • Stata: Expertise in data cleaning, tabulation, visualization and advanced statistical analysis.
  • NVivo: Advanced skills in qualitative data analysis, including case creation, classification, thematic coding (parent and sub-codes), matrix coding, cross tabulation and data visualization.
  • Python (AI-assisted): Working proficiency in data management, basic scripting, and analytical tasks, developed through applied research use with AI-assisted coding workflows; actively building independent fluency.
  • Kobo Toolbox: Experienced in designing, programming, and deploying mobile-based data collection instruments for field surveys in low-resource and international settings; implemented a multilingual worldwide survey across 10 languages using machine-assisted translation, with survey instruments adapted for cross-national administration.
  • Microsoft Office Suite: Advanced skills in MS word, excel and PowerPoint.

Research and Data Expertise:

  • Strong background in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
  • Experienced in primary data collection (surveys, interviews, fieldwork).

Report and Policy Writing:

  • Proven ability to draft policy brief, analytical report and research summaries for diverse audience.

Languages

English – Fluent

Pashto – Native

Urdu -Native

Italian – Basic (Learning)

Turkish –  Basic (Learning)

Lets Meet and Talk

Phone/Whatsapp

+39 344 6659 895

Email

dr.kashifaakash@gmail.com

Updated May 08, 2026