Monika Arnez

I am an Associate Professor of Asian Anthropology and the Head of the Anthropology Advancements Research Cluster at Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic.

Research Focus and Contributions
My research straddles critical areas such as integration, ethnicity, migration, human-environment-technology relations, and gender studies. I recently co-edited the influential book Gender, Islam, and Sexuality in Contemporary Indonesia, published by Springer Nature. Currently, I investigate the emotional politics surrounding drones in Indonesia, examining how work and media discourse shape public perception; the forthcoming book will be published in 2025 with Springer Nature. My research on the environmental and social impacts of land reclamation in Melaka was recognized as a "signature success" in the final report of the CRISEA project.

Mentorship and Teaching Excellence
I am dedicated to mentorship, successfully supervising three postdoctoral fellows who received Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions grants for their anthropological projects. These projects explore diverse topics, including land reclamation in Malaysia and the sociocultural aspects of medicinal plant supply chains in Mongolia. My teaching excellence has been acknowledged through multiple awards, including two Teaching Innovation Awards from the University of Hamburg (2015 and 2019) and a professionalization certificate awarded in 2020.

Leadership Roles and Academic Engagement
In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I serve as a Management Committee member of the COST Action History of Identity Documentation in European Nations (HIDDEN). I have contributed to various EU-funded research initiatives such as Sinophone Borderlands, Competing Regional Integrations in Southeast Asia (CRISEA), and Integration in Southeast Asia: Trajectories of Inclusion (SEATIDE). Her previous academic roles include being a Visiting Professor at the University of Bern and an Assistant Professor at the University of Hamburg. She has also taught at several prestigious institutions across Europe and Southeast Asia, including the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore. My work not only advances academic discourse but also fosters meaningful connections between cultures.