Dr Matveeva works as an academic and a practitioner, specialising in conflict and peace studies, peacebuilding and involvement of the post-Soviet citizens in violent extremism at home and abroad, having published extensively on these themes. The geographical remit of her interests covers conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, the Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as Russian policy towards them, while her initial research background is in Afghanistan. Dr Matveeva has worked for the United Nations and lived in Central Asia in her capacity as the UNDP Regional Adviser on Peace and Development. In 2010, Dr Matveeva headed the Research Secretariat of the international Kyrgyzstan Inquiry Commission. She presently acts as a consultant to international organisations, such as the UN, the EU and bilateral donors, and for international non-governmental organisations. Previously she was a Research Fellow at Chatham House, worked at the London School of Economics and headed programmes at International Alert and Saferworld. She is also a board member of Nonviolent Peaceforce, an international NGO headquartered in Geneva.