College of University Alliance Ruhr Senior Fellows Start Research Stays

The first international Senior Fellows have begun their research stays at the College for Social Sciences and Humanities of the University Alliance Ruhr in the beginning of March. Their reception marks the official start of the international Senior Fellowship Programme, admitting up to 20 visiting researchers per year.

The College for Social Sciences and Humanities welcomed eight of the renowned international researchers, who were selected for the international Senior Fellowship Programme, on a Welcome Day on 11th March. Two more will follow in April. The professors come to the University Alliance Ruhr from universities in Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, Poland, Turkey, and the USA. In collaboration with their tandem partners from Ruhr University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, and University of Duisburg-Essen, the Senior Fellows are working on independent research projects over the course of the summer term 2024, leading to publications, events, and further projects.

Senior Fellows in summer term 2024 (left to right): Professor Douglas Wegner (Fundação Dom Cabral, Brazil), Professor Erdem Özgür (Dokuz Eylül University, Turkey), Professor Sule E. Egya (Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Nigeria), Professor Małgorzata Sugiera (Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland), Professor Stephen Brown (University of Ottawa, Canada), Assistant Professor Marta García Morcillo (Durham University, UK), Professor Peter Woelert (University of Melbourne, Australia); missing in this picture: Professor Manuel Souto-Otero (Cardiff University, UK), Professor Mila Ganeva (Miami University, USA), Associated Professor Christina Vagt (University of California Santa Barbara, USA)

© College UA Ruhr

Director Professor Julika Griem emphasises: ”We are looking forward to the many enriching stimuli that we expect our Fellows will introduce to the humanities and social sciences within the UA Ruhr through their research focuses. We can learn from their valuable experience in other academic systems. The tandem collaborations will foster sustainable international research partnerships.“

Leeway for Interdisciplinary Exchange

The spectrum of disciplines among the current Fellows encompasses literary, cultural and media studies, performative studies, history, political science, educational science and sociology, and economics – accordingly, the research topics are highly diverse. In a weekly colloquium, the researchers have the opportunity for interdisciplinary discussion of the projects, hearing different scholarly perspectives and identifying intersections. Moreover, the Fellows will organise academic events such as workshops and give guest lectures, partly within seminars – this way, students benefit from their expertise as well.
In September, the second group of selected scholars will begin their fellowships.

Next Call for Applications in April

The next call for applications for Senior Fellowships in the academic year 2025/26 is planned for mid-April. Detailed information will be available on the College’s new website. The College invites experienced researchers of the UA Ruhr to support applications of eligible candidates.