2016 Entry
David Hansen holds a BSc in Anthropology and Cultural and Global Studies (2015) from Central Michigan University. He has experience conducting bioarchaeological and anthropological research in Bolivia, Romania, and Singapore.
Thesis Topic: ‘Bones of the Bronze Age: A bioarchaeological study of micro-regional interaction in south-east Kazakhstan’
Research Interests: bioarchaeology, disease transmission, trade routes and migration, mortuary practices, identity, biodistance, ritual and violence
Aigerim Kagarmanova holds a BA in Journalism (2015) from the International IT University, Almaty. She has a work experience in television, digital marketing and in NGO. She is a FLEX program alumna.
Research interests: Mass Media, Bilingualism in Kazakhstan, Political Journalism, the role of Mass Media coverage in historic events, the role of Social Media on political events and the development of civil society.
Thesis Topic: ‘Electronic bazaar: Social Media as a marketplace in contemporary Kazakhstan’
Togzhan Kalamysheva holds a BA in International Relations (2016) from Suleyman Demirel University, Almaty.
Research interests: trade, economic and social integration of the Eurasian region, religious radicalism.
Thesis Topic: ‘The socio-cultural underpinnings of the life insurance market in Kazakhstan’
Zhansaule Kimel holds a BA in Economics and Business (2014) from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty.
Research interests: gender policy, formation of social classes, unemployment in society, migration, cultural studies, internationalization of society.
Thesis Topic: ‘Small town capitalism: socio-economic implications of women’s involvement in trade’
Karina Matkarimova holds a BA in Regional Studies (2015) from the Eurasian National University, Astana, where her area of specialisation was East Asia.
Research interests: Eurasian integration, the soft power concept.
Thesis Topic: ‘The German “Soft Power” Strategy in Kazakhstan: Educational and Cultural Aspects’
Dina Mukatova holds a BA in Regional Studies (2015) from the Eurasian National University, Astana, where her area of specialisation was East and South-East Asia.
Research interests: social policy, cultural and criminal anthropology, archaeology, media studies, public diplomacy, cultural stereotypes, intercultural relations, art & literature, border security, political behaviourism.
Thesis Topic: ‘Nuclear culture and Nuclear legacies in Kazakhstan and Japan’
Xeniya Udod holds a BA in journalism (2002) from the Eurasian National University, Astana. She has worked as a journalist, editor and presenter for the Astana TV-Channel, as well as a freelance author for various print and digital media. In 2008 she won a Chevening scholarship for the ‘What makes democracy work?’ course at the University of Birmingham, UK. Since 2009 she has worked as a press and information assistant at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Research Interests: media, journalism, freedom of speech and expression; gender and feminism; international relations; art and literature.
Thesis Topic: ‘A Choir of Soloists: Agendas and Controversies of Contemporary Feminism in Kazakhstan’
Di Wang holds a BA in International Relations (2016) from the University of Rochester.
Research interests: trade history, material culture and religions of the Silk Road.
Thesis Topic: ‘Tarbagatai and Ili: Trade and Merchant Networks in northern Xinjiang in the 18th and 19th century’
Nurgul Zhanabayeva holds a BA in Simultaneous Interpretation (2014) from the International Ataturk Alatoo University , Kyrgyzstan. In 2011 she was an exchange student at the Eastern Mediterranean University (Northern Cyprus). She has taught Global Perspectives and Research at the Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Taraz for 2 years.
Research Interests: The role of education in solving gender issues, gender and employment, cultural stereotypes, the concept of ‘feminism’ in Kazakhstan.
Thesis Topic: ‘The Changing Perceptions and Practices of Nonmarital Relationships among Ethnic Kyrgyz Youth in Bishkek’
Eurasian Studies at NU 