This website is no longer active but remains online as an archive of the work of the Asian Migrations Research Theme, which ran between 2012 and 2016. Some of its work has been succeeded by the Centre for Global Migrations.
Go to the Centre for Global Migrations website.
Postgraduate students associated with the theme
The wide interdisciplinary scope of the Asian Migrations Research Theme is reflected in the interests and disciplines of the postgraduate students affiliated with the research theme.
PhD students and their proposed research topics
Darren Atkinson, Department of Politics, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘The Post Communist Transformation of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA)’
Rochelle Bailey, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘An Ethnography of Migration, Development and the Left-behind: The Social Impacts of ni-Vanuatu workers in New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme’
Nilay Baycar, Department of Politics, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Democratisation in Turkey under the Rule of the Justice and Development Party’
Maud Ceuterick, Department of Media, Film and Communication, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title. ‘Women and spaces in between: Contemporary moving images and mobile subjects’
Ik Young Chang, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences
Proposed Research Title‘Transnational Migration and Identity Negotiation: The Role of Sport in Spaces of Life of 1.5 Generation South Koreans in New Zealand’
Rakhee Chatbar, Department of Geography, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Volunteering for Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) in South India’
Lancini Jen-Hao Cheng, Department of Music, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Taxonomy of Taiwanese Traditional Music’
Minoo Hassani Esfehani
Proposed Research Title 'The Roll of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in Ecotourism Development in Natural Protected Areas (NPA)'
Mary Furnari, Higher Education Development Centre and College of Education, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title is forthcoming
Molly George, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Experiences of Aotearoa New Zealand as Home for Older New Zealanders and New Migrants’
Danilo Giambra, Department of Theology and Religion, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Japanese New Religions Online Communication: the cases of Tenrikyo and Seicho no Ie’
Anna Gosling, Departments of Biochemistry and Anatomy, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Hyperuriceamia in the Pacific: potential reasons for the elevated serum urate levels among Polynesians’
Karen Greig, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology/Department of Anatomy, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘It’s a dog’s life: Archaeology, ancient DNA and dogs in Remote Oceania'
Hamizah A. Hamid, Department of Management, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title: 'Ethnic migrant entrepreneurs: Challenges, opportunities and response'
Huijuan Hua, Department of Music, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title 'A Musical Biography of Samuel Pollard'
Naoko Inoue, Higher Education Development Centre, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title 'The experiences of native English speaking teachers who work and live in Japan.'
Roberta Jenkins, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Institutions and Faith: Building Christian Community in South Korea.’
Balazs Kiglics, Department of Languages and Cultures, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Japanese elite perceptions of contemporary Japan-China relations.’
Wendy Eikaas-Lee, Department of Music, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title 'Music of Nepalese Festivals in Migration and Its Social and Musical Implications, in Singapore.'
Marie Nissanka, National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title 'The nature of multiculturalism within the civics education textbooks of Sri Lanka.'
Anita Perkins, Department of Languages and Cultures, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Travel texts and moving cultures: contemporary literature and film in the context of the new mobilities paradigm.’
Tracy Rogers, Department of Higher Education Development Centre and College of Education, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title 'Exploring educational persistence: What factors support girls to remain in secondary school in Cambodia?
Shabnam Seyedmehdi, School of Business, Department of Marketing University of Otago
Proposed Research Title 'Flirting with a destination: a study on the process of place bonding'
Jacqueline Tagg, College of Education, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title 'From the Student’s Perspective: a multiple case study of Non-English Speaking Background (NESB) Students moving from an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) bridging program into mainstream university study and the relevance for their academic success.'
Rachel Tan, Higher Education Development Centre, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title 'The Impact of Globalisation on an Old and a New Research University: How does it shape values and knowledge.'
Lien Trinh, College of Education, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title 'The provision of sexual health education for international students in New Zealand by their homestay parents.'
Alex Thong, Department of Media, Film and Communication, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Theorising Post-Reformasi Malaysian Politics.’
Monica Tromp, Department of Anatomy, Biological Anthropology Research Group, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Examining migration and agriculture through plant microfossils from human and pig dental calculus from Island South East Asia and southwest Oceania.’
Abid Akbar Vali, Department of English, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Transnational Collaborations: Swami and Yeats, Fellanosa and Pound.’
Keziah Wallis, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Beyond Buddhism: the role of spirit cult in Burmese religion.’
Pei-Hua Wu, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title 'Double Sprouted Pottery of Papua New Guinea and its possible prehistoric links between Asia and the Pacific.'
Linda Zampol D’Ortia, Department of Theology and Religion, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Evangelization at a Crossroad: Francisco Cabral, S. J. and his outlook for the Jesuit Mission in Japan (1570-1580).’
Lin Zeng, Department of Languages and Cultures, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Encounter Between Languages: Liang Qichao’s transnational experience and translational practice.’
Jundan (Jasmine) Zhang, Department of Tourism, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Dualistic conundrums in ethnic tourism: The role of ecological thought.’
Masters students and their proposed research topics
Rajdeep Guha, Department of English and Linguistics, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title ‘Family and Diaspora in the works of Jhumpa Lahiri and Kiran Desai.’
Nicholas Sutton, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Otago
Proposed Research Title 'Pots on the Move?: Ceramic Production and Mobility at Oposisi, Papua New Guinea.'
