Academic Research

The Department of South Asian Societies and Cultures (SASC) is an international and interdisciplinary research environment dedicated to the study of societies, cultures, and histories of South Asia and its diasporas. It brings together researchers from different disciplines, regional contexts and methodological backgrounds, creating a vibrant space for intellectual exchange and collaboration. 
SASC places particular emphasis on supporting early-career researchers and fostering an intergenerational research community.
Regular workshops, research colloquia, collaborative publications and public engagement activities are central to the department’s research culture. Annual thematic focuses connect research, teaching and outreach and provide a framework for developing new questions and collaborative research agendas. Together, these activities make SASC a dynamic environment in which research is understood as collaborative, diverse and publicly engaged.

Research Internship: The Navina Sundaram Archive and Collection

The Department of South Asian Societies and Cultures (SASC) invites applications for a research internship focusing on the archive of filmmaker and television journalist Navina Sundaram (1945–2022). The intern will contribute to the ongoing cataloging and contextualization of Sundaram’s professional and private correspondence, helping to make this important collection accessible for future research and teaching. The internship offers an opportunity to engage with an archive that connects South Asian, German, and transnational histories.
Depending on their individual research interests, interns may also develop a small research project based on materials from the collection. This could result, for example, in a short article, an e-zine contribution, or a podcast episode. The internship thus combines hands-on archival work with independent research and creative forms of knowledge dissemination. 
It is particularly suited to MA students interested in archives, media history, South Asian studies, postcolonial studies, migration, or transnational history.

Master’s students

Doctoral students

 

We welcome applications from open-minded and highly motivated students with a strong interest in transcultural research questions. Experience with physical or online archives is desirable, but not a prerequisite. The successful candidate should be able to work independently, reliably and with a high degree of initiative. Given the department’s focus, an interest in South Asia, its diasporas and related research questions is particularly welcome. 
During the internship, there will also be opportunities to attend teaching sessions and participate in academic events, which typically engage with South Asia-related topics. Therefore, knowledge of the region and prior experience in South Asian studies are advantageous, but not required.

As preparation, candidates are asked to register for the digital archive "The Fifth Wall – Navina Sundaram" (https://die-fuenfte-wand.de/en) and familiarize themselves with its themes, materials and the trajectory of Navina Sundaram’s work.