During your time at the EUI, what was your research about and where has it taken you?
I did my PhD in history in 20th century colonial post-colonial history, Belgian and German whiteness and gender studies on the African continent. Since I defended my thesis, a bit more than ten years ago, my research and my academic agenda have taken me to many parts of Europe and a little bit to Northern America and of course to sub-Saharan Africa.
The EUI has really put me on a trajectory of starting in Europe but going long ways to other continents and continuing my research, my postdoc research and now my current research and teaching in the Netherlands.
It's been quite the path ever since I started here.
How would you say that the network that you met at the EUI has helped you professionally?
The EUI network honestly has been one of the biggest stepping stones for my career, but also one of the biggest stepping stones, I should say, for my private life. I met my partner here. We've been married since and we have children.
But going back to the professional advantages of the EUI network. It really helped me on the one hand with the support from my supervisor to get into my first postdoc position back then at University Hamburg.
The network has also helped me engage in research projects, in collaborations across disciplines, across countries, even mostly within Europe since that's where most of us are based.
I can really say that one of the most amazing things is that now, 15 years since I first came to the EUI as a first-year researcher, this network is still in place, it's extremely active and it's growing.
What three words would you use to describe your academic experience at the EUI?
Eye-opening, interdisciplinary and long-lasting.
What advice would you give to current and future researchers at the EUI?
My advice to current and future researchers of the EUI is to always keep an open mind. To take advantage of this incredible international institution because it gives you this beautiful moment that lasts many years, to look beyond what you know, especially from national history perspectives and from national narrative perspectives.
You will get this opportunity to enlarge your knowledge, to widen the access that you have to knowledge and to literally pick the brains of other academics in conversation, sometimes also in debate. But that's part of being an academic. Usually, the friction that comes from debates helps you to become a better academic. And in my opinion experience.
Just use this incredible privilege.
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The EUI Alumni Testimonials series offers a glimpse into the diverse paths and experiences of our alumni. Through their stories, we revisit meaningful moments from their time at the EUI and discover how these experiences continue to shape their personal and professional journeys.
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Disclaimer: All information reported in this article reflects solely the perspective of EUI alumni and former EUI members. In no case does this article represent the view of the organisations the interviewees are affiliated with.