Riza Yildirim’s research focuses on the history and religiosity of Qizilbash-Alevi, Bektashi, and similar shari‘a-inattentive, Shi‘ite-oriented religious communities in the region stretching from Iran to the Balkans. He has published five books and several research papers on the history and religion of Qizilbash-Alevis, Bektashis, and futuwwa people. Having a PhD in Ottoman history from Bilkent University (Turkey), he taught in TOBB University in Ankara between 2009 and 2016. His second dissertation, which he is currently writing in religious studies at Emory University, examines the religious system of the politico-military elites of the Safavid empire, the Qizilbash.