Dr Hussain has an undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of Manchester, a PhD in Sociology and Applied Policy Studies from the University of Bristol, and was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Geography at the University of Oxford. She has also held positions at the University of Leeds and Charles Darwin University in Australia. She is currently a member of the Editorial Board for the British Sociological Association's flagship journal Sociology, and a book series editor for Springer International. 

Dr Hussain acts as an expert witness for legal cases, has worked as a consultant for the British and Australian governments, conducted research with organisations such as Ipsos MORI, BBC World Service, Open Society Foundation, Islamic Relief Worldwide; and has collaborated with academics from North America, Asia and Australia.