Personal profile
Personal Statement
I am passionate about exploring the intricate dynamics between humans and technology. I have formal education in IT and business and have worked in diverse settings, including law enforcement, higher education management, teaching, and research. My research interests lie in understanding how people of different ages interact with technology, what issues they face during the acceptance, adoption and post-adoption phases, and the consequences of technology use on the various aspects of their lives. Understanding users' experience helps design better systems, tools and applications. My work aims to bridge the gap between technical solutions and user experiences, enhancing both security measures and user satisfaction. I believe by fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, we can bring a meaningful change in the field of cybersecurity.
Beyond academia, I regularly provide consultancy in user experience research.
If you are interested in doing PhD in the above-mentioned areas, feel free to contact me!
Research Interests
My research focus is "Where human meets technology"!
I am interested in understanding how people interact with technology, what issues they face, and the consequences of technology use. To understand these dynamics, I borrow knowledge from disciplines such as sociology, psychology, and economics and conduct user studies (both quantitative and qualitative) to understand and improve human-technology interaction, especially cybersecurity behaviours.
Investigating the effects of the dark side of technology, such as information overload and techno-stress, on well-being and security-related behaviours is also close to my heart.
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Science, University of Turku
Award Date: 29 Nov 2019
Master of Business Administration, Allama Iqbal Open University
Award Date: 28 Aug 2013
Master of Science, (Technology), University Of Turku
Award Date: 27 Jun 2013
External positions
Senior Research Consultant, Qatar Computing Research Institute
25 Dec 2022 → 24 Dec 2023
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 4 Quality Education
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SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
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SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Finished
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Addressing Privacy Risks and Legal Challenges in the Emergent Use of Text-based Generative AI for UK Research (REPHRAIN)
Moncur, W. (Principal Investigator), Farooq, A. (Co-investigator), Farooq, A. (Co-investigator), Gibson, R. C. (Research Co-investigator) & Gibson, R. C. (Research Co-investigator)
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/11/23 → 31/08/24
Project: Research
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The effect of religiosity and cultural conservatism on digital privacy concerns: A comparative longitudinal study of five Arab countries
Haider, W., Martin, J., Farooq, A., Salminen, J. & Jansen, B. J., 1 Apr 2026, In: International Communication Gazette. 88, 3, p. 284-316 33 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)46 Downloads (Pure) -
Does negative buzz result in social media discontinuation? Investigating the effects of negative word of mouth in the United States, India, and Finland
Farooq, A., Salminen, J., Dahabiyeh, L., Javed, Y. & Jansen, B. J., 1 Mar 2026, In: Technology in Society. 84, 17 p., 103103.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)27 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
Activities
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Cross-Faculty Connections: Growing Networks and Building Opportunities with and for Children and Young People
Batchelor, H. (Organiser), Davidson, J. (Organiser), McCann, L. (Organiser), Vaupel-Schwittay, H. (Organiser), Hall, H. (Organiser), Thomson, E. (Organiser), Shields, S. (Organiser), Vaswani, N. (Organiser), Rivers, I. (Participant), Mueller, T. (Participant), Boyd, M. (Participant), Kurdi, A. (Participant), Weston, K. (Participant), Swann, J. (Participant), Steckley, L. (Participant), Sojka, B. (Participant), Smith, K. (Participant), Shields, S. (Organiser), Russell, K. (Participant), Remy, C. (Participant), Reilly, G. (Participant), Porter, R. B. (Participant), Paul, S. (Participant), Nicol, E. (Participant), Mueller, T. (Participant), Moore, I. (Participant), McPherson, L. (Participant), MacAskill, M. (Participant), Kurdi, A. (Participant), Ierna, M. (Participant), Harrington, D. (Participant), Farooq, A. (Participant), Ellis, C. (Participant), Delaney, D. (Participant), Cunningham, M. R. (Participant), Corrigan, A. J. (Participant), Cordeiro, S. (Participant), Cleland, J. (Participant), Burns, C. (Participant), Boyd, M. (Participant), Bardid, F. (Participant), Graham, D. (Participant) & Rivers, I. (Participant)
26 Feb 2026Activity: Presenting or Organising an Event › Organiser of special symposia
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Panel: Incident Response & Recovery
Farooq, A. (Chair)
4 Feb 2026Activity: Public Engagement and Outreach › Public Events