Until March 10, 2024 you can apply to become part of the third cohort of the PostDoc Peer Mentoring Programme. What is it like, in the words of a current participant?
Tell us a little about yourself and why you decided to take part in the programme!
My name is Petra Hamer and I come from Slovenia. I am an ethnologist and cultural anthropologist and I finished my PhD studies at the Centre for Southeast European Studies. During the long (and Covid-related) phase of writing the thesis, I realised how lonely the process is/was. After getting an ÖAW scholarship for my future book, I knew I needed more contact with my peers in the process of writing. The Peer Mentoring programme seemed like a perfect place for it.
What surprised you the most about the programme?
The first surprise was actually realising how different and diverse the Uni Graz is. In a sense, I have spent most of my time with fellow anthropologists, ethnologists, historians… and here, there were a geographer, a chemist, an economist, psychologists…. And they all have similar interests as I have.
Why would you recommend it to other researchers?
The Peer Mentoring programme is a great place to meet new people, to exchange ideas, questions, dilemmas, fears, gossips. It is a safe environment where you can freely talk about different topics, you get professional trainers and specialist to help you and support you along the way. I learned many new methods, started to cherish and acknowledge my academic career even more, I became more familiar with the possible funding organisations, and I learned to be more goal oriented.
What's next for you in 2024?
2024 will be a busy year. Next to writing a book about the musical landscape in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the war, I am a postdoc researcher at an ERC funded project at the University of Ljubljana and I will conduct ethnographical fieldwork in several Bosnian-Herzegovinian cities. Additionally, I have a couple of conferences to organise and/or attend, articles to write, and will spend my free time with my family and friends doing things I like.
(Johanna Stadlbauer & Petra Hamer, January 2024)
Thank you so much, Petra Hamer, for agreeing to this interview - and congratulations to all members of the current team on your achivements and your dedication to collaboration!