Licinia Guttel
photo (c) John Cairns
DPhil Politics, 2023
Clarendon Scholarship
Originally from Germany, Licinia completed her undergraduate Dual French-German degree in Political Science at Freie Universität Berlin and Sciences Po Paris. She then completed her master’s in social science of the Internet at the University of Oxford. She became interested in the internet and digitalisation through the lenses of political science, researching how digital technologies influence politics and how political actors are talking about the role of digital technologies in society. During her time in Berlin, where she also gained research experience at an internet research institute, she realised that she wanted to pursue a pathway that combines political science research with the study of digitalisation, ultimately motivating her decision to study in Oxford.
Currently in her third year of her DPhil, she is researching what political parties and citizens think of digitalisation. Her work explores public opinion on digitalisation in Europe and studies how political parties make sense of these technology.
MPhil Development Studies, 2023
Hello! My name is Marlene, and I completed a two-year MPhil in Development Studies at the Oxford Department of International Development.
Before coming to Oxford, I earned my undergraduate degree in Sustainable Management from TU Berlin. Alongside my studies, I gained diverse experience across the public and private sector, worked as a self-employed photographer, and was engaged in multiple volunteer positions. As a Research Assistant at the Mercator Research Institute in Berlin, I discovered my passion for academia.
My research interests lie at the intersection of environment and development, with a focus on just green transitions, systems thinking, and complexity science. During my time at Oxford, I also developed a strong interest in political economy and the philosophy of justice.
My MPhil thesis explored a large-scale green hydrogen project in Namibia, examining its social and environmental implications through a justice lens. This research was grounded in over 70 interviews and five systems mapping workshops conducted during two months of fieldwork in Namibia.
At Green Templeton College, I have been an active member of the community. In my first year, I served on the GCR as Female Welfare Officer, where I organised numerous social events, restructured the weekly brunches to foster stronger community bonds, and successfully advocated for a fairer allocation system for formal exchange dinners. In my second year, as Vice President of Welfare, I continued to organize events, host brunches, and implemented longer-term improvements to our shared spaces to encourage more communal interaction.
Throughout my studies, GTC has been a welcoming and supportive home and an inspiring space to recharge amid the intensity of academic life. I am deeply grateful for the friendships, opportunities, and sense of belonging I found here.
Contact: marlene.merchert@oxfordalumni.org
DPhil Political Theory, 2023
My DPhil is an evaluation of the claims of the ‘postliberal’ movement, which believes liberalism has become oppressive to individuals holding traditional personal values. As such, my research engages with both liberal and conservative political thought and the role of religion in politics. I have organised a seminar series on Islam and liberalism, and I co-convene the Oxford Conservative Thought Reading Group.
Outside academia, I am the Head of Domestic Policy at the think tank Pickthall House (https://pickthallhouse.org/), and I also run an online education business.
Contact: jacob.williams@gtc.ox.ac.uk
DPhil Criminology, 2023
I am a DPhil candidate at the Centre for Criminology, supervised by Dr Leila Ulrich, under the ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership Studentship. I hold an MPhil in Socio-Legal Research from the University of Oxford, an LLM in Law and Gender from SOAS University of London, and an LLB from SOAS University of London. Before joining Oxford, I trained as a Human Rights and Immigration Lawyer and worked with the International Organisation for Migration, UNICEF, and UN Women. I grew up in Germany and later moved to London to pursue my academic interests. In my free time, I explore the intersection of Art and Law in urban spaces.
Contact: koko.alhusainy@gtc.ox.ac.uk
MSc Social Anthropology, 2023
I am a social anthropologist specializing in cultural hybridity, ethnic identity, and human rights. Currently pursuing an MSc in Social Anthropology at the University of Oxford, my research explores the decoupling of Hawaiian ethnic identity from cultural kinship, revealing how emotional ties formed through cultural practices like hula enable non-Hawaiians to be seen as cultural kin, despite not sharing Hawaiian ancestry. Also holding a BA in Digital Media and Society from the Department of the Sociological Studies at the University of Sheffield.
My research interest also includes labour migrants, particularly those working on longline tuna fishing boats in the Pacific Ocean, which addresses the complex dynamics of mobility and confinement faced by these migrants under limited maritime laws.
In addition to my academic work, I am actively involved in Hawaiian cultural practices, particularly hula dancing, and participate in the University of Oxford’s volleyball club.
MSc Social Anthropology, 2023
Originally from the US (Chicago), I am an MSc student in Social Anthropology. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science, and a concentration in Leadership Studies, from Williams College, where I also competed and captained the women’s tennis team.
At Oxford, I played for the women’s varsity Blues Tennis team and was a part of the women’s novice rowing team here at GTC. I also worked as a consultant for the Oxford Strategy Group (OSG) and was involved in the Oxford SDG Impact Lab, where I helped lead the Oxford Sports Leadership Program and worked with a local non-profit, Active Oxfordshire, to improve access to physical activities for adults with learning disabilities.
Passionate about history and social justice, my interest in gender equality and women’s empowerment through sport was inspired by both my experience as a female athlete and my work with the U.S. Department of State at the Secretary’s Office for Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI). Building on my research into women, sports, and nationalism in Amman, Jordan conducted during the summer of 2022, my dissertation explores the participation of women in martial arts in Jordan as a platform for empowerment and identity-shaping while also serving as a space for negotiating broader social norms.
