Alumni

Emmy Eklundh completed the MAIR in 2011. After her graduation she completed a PhD in Politics at the University of Manchester after which she spent 5 years at King’s College London as a Lecturer in International Politics. Currently, she is a Lecturer in Politics at the Cardiff University. “The MAIR has provided me with thorough and rigorous training in IR and its related fields, ranging from international law to international political economy. I have especially benefited from the strong focus on social theory, which has given me a comparative advantage in relation to other IR graduates. My research is now centred on challenges to the European democratic order, and especially populism. I would strongly recommend this programme, as it has prepared me for my career both theoretically and empirically. Coming to Bremen was one of the best decisions I ever made!"

George Katete completed the MAIR program in September 2006. After his graduation he proceeded with a PhD program from 2008 to 2012 at the University of Bremen focusing on the regional dimensions of the Sudanese civil war. Since 2014, he works as a lecturer at the University of Nairobi’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration. “The MAIR has laid a solid foundation for my career path as university lecturer and provided me with valuable theoretical and methodological insights to the study of International Relations. Today, I am still benefitting a lot from this important milestone in my education while teaching and supervising undergraduate and graduate students myself. I can highly recommend this program which is theoretically rich and academically rigorous at the same time.”

Mehak Kapur completed the MAIR in 2018. Currently, she is pursuing doctoral studies in International Relations at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. “The MAIR program provides essential theoretical and methodological training valuable to careers both within and outside academia. It is an excellent program for students looking to gain the analytical research skills required for doctoral studies or public/private sector careers dealing with questioning the global political climate. The faculty’s constant encouragement and support instilled confidence in my research abilities".

James Hollway (jameshollway.com) completed the MAIR in 2010. He completed his doctorate at Nuffield College, University of Oxford, before taking postdoctoral positions at ETH Zürich and USI Lugano. He is currently Associate Professor of Political Science/International Relations at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva. “The interdisciplinary, theoretically and methodologically broad MAIR was both formative and transformative and continues to influence my research and teaching.”

Cansu Güneş İspir completed the MAIR in 2018. After her graduation she worked as an English teacher and voluntary translator for the Turkish newspaper Evrensel. Currently, she is employed as a junior foreign trade specialist in the textile industry in Adana, Turkey. “The MAIR gave me the chance of studying with excellent professors from both universities and students from all over the world. The seminars broadened my horizon and encouraged me to think critically and formulate my own thoughts freely during group and plenary discussions. Studying the MAIR definitely enriched my perception of world politics and my vision of life. Not to mention the variety of social activities on and off campus that turned my time in Bremen into an amazing and unforgettable experience.”

Christopher Smith Ochoa graduated in 2013. After his graduation, he worked as a research associate at the Institute of Political Science at the University of Duisburg-Essen. He is currently a doctoral scholarship holder of the Hans Böckler Foundation for his dissertation on narratives in the German economic inequality discourse in the context of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. “The MAIR provided an excellent foundation for pursuing an academic career in political science and International Relations. I found its interdisciplinary, research-focused approach very helpful for discovering and fostering my particular research interest. Furthermore, the program gave me the necessary theoretical and empirical tools to become a successful researcher and publish in renowned peer-reviewed journals. The excellent teaching staff and highly motivated cohort were essential to creating a fruitful intellectual environment that inspired me to pursue my doctoral degree.”

Ritika Singh completed the MAIR in 2017. Since her graduation, she has been working as a researcher at Social Science Baha, a Nepalese non-profit organization, focusing on good governance, information and communication technologies, migration, and gender. “The MAIR helped me to develop my research skills, and was an incredible opportunity to learn across regions and cultures. Not to forget, the international nature of the program meant that I graduated with friends in several continents!”

Felix Anderl completed the MAIR in 2014. After his graduation he worked as a research associate at the Cluster of Excellence: The Formation of Normative Orders at the Goethe University Frankfurt where he completed his PhD on the World Bank Group's interaction with transnational resistance movements. Currently, he is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Cambridge. “The MAIR has deeply shaped the way I think about international politics. The program's emphasis on social theory in relation to transnational phenomena is unique, and the way these difficult questions are connected to research methodology and practice has given me a perfect preparation for my PhD and beyond. It was particularly enriching to be a part of such a diverse group of smart people, many of whom are still close friends of mine.”

Anna Wolkenhauer graduated in 2015. After her graduation she worked on her PhD on social policy and state formation in Zambia at the Bremen International Graduate School of Social Science (BIGSSS). Currently, she works as a research associate at the Institute of Intercultural and International Studies (InIIS). “The MAIR provided me with a methodological and theoretical basis on which I could plan my own independent research project. I benefited especially from the rich experience and passionate commitment of the MAIR lecturers, as well as the varied and stimulating debates with my classmates. Being and working in a heterogenous group has been a truly rewarding and formative experience on a professional and personal level.”

Katharina Eimermacher completed the MAIR in 2016. After her graduation she worked with the city administration of Bremen in refugee and non-german citizens' integration. Currently, she works in public grant management for the International Paralympic Committee. “With its academic diversity and interdisciplinary scope, the MAIR has played a key part in enabling me to cope with and quickly adjust to very different fields of work and changing subject areas. At the same time, the MAIR prepares students for working - and living - in international and intercultural settings, not only in the classroom but also by facilitating friendships across borders and continents.”