Prof. Daria Berg welcomes applications on topics related to Chinese culture, literature, history, art, gender and so on. Please make sure your proposal explores issues related to Prof. Berg’s research fields.

Please apply through the formal channel here to the DOK programme at the University of St. Gallen, listing Prof. Daria Berg as your potential supervisor.

Current PhD students:

• Arda Leibundgut (expected completion date: 2021)
  "Environmentalism in China: How China's Environmental History Prepared the Country for Its Environmental Challenges, 1911-2016"
  By looking at the history of environmentalism in China, Mr Leibundgut's research asks how Chinese culture and philosophy shape environmentalism in the country; what environmental lessons China learnt from Mao's "war against nature"; how post-Mao environmental protection ministries and institutions contribute to China's growing efficiency in pollution prevention; and how contemporary Chinese film-makers such as Chai Jing contribute to environmentalism. Mr Leibundgut holds a MSc in Anthropology and a BA in Biology (University of Zurich).
• Dominique Ursprung (expected completion date: 2020)
  "Innovation in Vocational Education and Training among Swiss companies in Shanghai"
  Since the establishment of systematic surveys among Swiss companies in China in 2007, “finding and retaining talent” has been consistently named as one of their most important challenges. This research aims to answer the question which approach has proven to be the most successful to solve this skill shortage problem? The scope of the project is limited to the situation in Shanghai, where half of the estimated 500 Swiss companies in China are located. Mr Ursprung holds a MSc in International Management for Japan (SOAS, UK) and a MA in International Relations (Graduate Institute, Geneva). 

Past PhD students:

• Sergio de Eccher (graduated in 2017)
  "The Role of Internet in Chinese Cyber-space: The Struggle between Internet Censorship and Digital Dissent in Chinese Society"  
• Katrin Geiseler (graduated in 2016)
  "Voices on Chinese Higher Education: An Analysis of the Cultural Discourse in Early 21st Century"