Before starting his PhD program, Karim was a Research Associate for Education Financing and Support Services Project at CERP. He graduated with an MS in Applied Economics from University of Minnesota Twin Cities and is also an alumnus of LUMS. Karim is a Fulbright scholar and has worked with the Aga Khan Rural Support Program. He also received a fellowship from the University of Minnesota to conduct research on the micro finance sector in Bamenda, Cameroon. His interests lie in development economics focusing on education and health and behavioral economics.