Five minutes with alumna Monja Stahlberger

Monja Stahlberger 

Recent PhD graduate and Sylvia Naish Competition winner Monja Stahlberger talks about her time at the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies, and her plans for the future.  

Please could you share some background on what you did prior to studying your PhD? 

Before starting my PhD, I completed my BA in Media Culture Studies and English Studies at Albert-Ludwigs University in Freiburg, Germany, graduating in 2019. During my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to participate in an Erasmus exchange at the University of Birmingham in 2017-18. This experience influenced my decision to return to Birmingham for my master’s degree in Literature & Culture one year later. My MA dissertation focused on W.G. Sebald's The Rings of Saturn and its English translation, analysing literary translation as both a mode and theme of Anglo-German cultural exchange. This research laid the groundwork for my interest in transnational cultural studies and exile literature.

During my studies, I gained practical experience through internships and voluntary roles. I completed a 5-month editorial internship at Südwestrundfunk (SWR2 Literatur) in Baden-Baden, Germany, where I worked in the literature department of a German radio broadcaster.

What attracted you to study with the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies (ILCS) and the School of Advanced Study?  

There were many aspects that ultimately made me choose SAS including location, funding opportunities, and supervisory expertise. I really liked the national and international network that SAS and the University of London have and the opportunity to be part of a vibrant research community in London, with access to extensive resources and networking opportunities, was very appealing. 

Ultimately, the ILCS attracted me due to its renowned expertise in exile studies. The Institute's Research Centre for German and Austrian Exile Studies seemed to be the perfect place for exploring and expanding my research interests. The Martin Miller and Hannah Norbert-Miller Trust PhD Studentship was also a significant factor, as it provided the financial support necessary to pursue my doctoral research.

Can you share more about your topic of research, and what interests you most about it? 

My doctoral research focused on how Kindertransport refugees negotiated belonging in exile, specifically studying how they wrote about this process in their diaries. What fascinates me most about this topic is the intersection of memory studies, transnationalism, and everyday theory in the context of forced migration and the perceptiveness of children and teenagers. By examining these diaries, I explored how young refugees navigated their sense of identity and belonging in a new cultural environment, and how this ultimately affected their integration process and notions of home. 

I'm particularly interested in how these personal narratives reflect broader themes of cultural adaptation, trauma, and the construction of transnational identities. The Kindertransport represents a unique historical moment, and these diaries offer invaluable insights into the lived experiences of children caught between cultures. 

Congratulations on being named as the winner of this year’s Sylvia Naish Competition! What did it mean to you to win the competition, and to be able to share your work through the public lecture on 2 May? 

Winning the Sylvia Naish Competition was a tremendous honour and the perfect way to round off my time as a PhD student at SAS and the ILCS. It provided an invaluable opportunity to share my work on a prestigious platform and it also felt like a full circle moment since I gave my first academic paper at the National Postgraduate Colloquium (which the Naish lecture is a part of) 3 years earlier. 

My public lecture on May 2nd, titled "Across Language Borders: Writing Integration and Belonging in Kindertransport Diaries," allowed me to present my findings on how language and writing played crucial roles in the integration process for these young refugees, which is also one of my favourite parts of my thesis. This recognition not only set me off to a great start as an early career researcher, but also highlighted the relevance of exile studies in today's context. 

What was the most valuable thing you learned during your PhD studies, and with your time with ILCS?

I should probably say that the most valuable things include the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in academic research and the development of various professional skills. While this is certainly also true, I think the most valuable thing I learned and experienced first-hand was how supportive the community is and how much everyone wants you to succeed at SAS and the ILCS. 

My time at ILCS has provided numerous opportunities for academic and personal growth. Serving as a student representative on various committees, including the ILCS Student-Staff Liaison Committee and the University of London Academic Board, has given me insight into academic governance and advocacy. Particularly significant was my involvement with SASiety, whether as Editor-in-Chief, Social Secretary or President. Together with the other committee members especially Natalia and Elena, we organised events that fostered a sense of community among postgraduate students, which was very needed during and immediately after the pandemic. A PhD can be an isolating experience but at SAS I never felt that way.

What are your future plans? 

Looking ahead, I'm excited about the opportunities that lie before me. In the immediate future, I'll be returning to SAS and the ILCS when taking up the Bithell Fellowship in German Studies from December 2024 to March 2025. This fellowship will allow me to further develop my research in German studies and exile literature. Additionally, I continue my work on the Knowledge Diplomacy Project lead by the University of London Institute in Paris, thereby further developing my experience in project coordination and academic representation to contribute to larger research initiatives. 

Long-term, I aim to continue my academic career, focusing on exile studies, memory studies, and transnational cultural exchanges. I'm particularly interested in expanding my research to include comparative studies of different exile experiences and their long-term impacts on cultural identity formation as well as the history of migrant Britain of the 20th century. I am hoping to secure a postdoc position in the near future.