Activities and scientific achievements

15 news found

© Reinfried Mansberger

activities of scholarship holders Appear Scholars ...

PhD Research: Unlocking Informal Settlements in Ethiopia

Mulugeta Tenaw Assaye, APPEAR scholar and PhD candidate at BOKU University, explores how informal settlements in Addis Ababa are shaped by deeply intertwined social, economic, political, and environmental “lock-ins.” Drawing on his recent publication in Cities, he identifies pathways toward inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development that empower marginalized communities while protecting the environment.

2 min read · 30. April 2026
© Bernhard Kling

activities of scholarship holders Scholars Entwicklungsforschung ...

Shaping Urban Futures: PhD Research on Housing and Urbanization in Ethiopia

Moges Wubet Shita, a PhD researcher and APPEAR scholar at Vienna University of Technology, explores the complex link between urbanization and housing in Ethiopia. His work combines spatial analysis, machine learning, and field research to uncover the drivers of urban expansion and housing affordability. Recently presented at the REAL CORP Conference 2026 and published in leading journals, his research provides valuable insights to support sustainable urban development and informed policymaking in rapidly growing cities.

4 min read · 31. March 2026
© Gearld Kwikiriza

activities of scholarship holders Scholars Entwicklungsforschung ...

Gerald Kwikiriza completes his PhD at BOKU University, Austria

In January 2026, Gerald Kwikiriza successfully defended his PhD with distinction at BOKU University. His research explored how fish translocations and aquaculture practices shape genetic diversity and hybridization. The work has already resulted in five publications in peer-reviewed journals and is generating important insights to strengthen Nile tilapia breeding programs while supporting the conservation of endangered species across East Africa.

3 min read · 11. March 2026
© Caroline Paparu (second from right during field work)

activities of scholarship holders Scholars Forscher:innen

Research on Gender Transformative Approaches for Natural Resource Governance in Uganda

Caroline Paparu, a PhD candidate at BOKU University investigates how environmental degradation and social inclusion intersect in contexts of displacement and shared resource use. Her research is conducted within the APPEAR-funded AMUTI project and focusing on the Rhino Camp refugee settlement in Uganda’s West Nile region—home to refugees from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

4 min read · 01. January 2026
© Arman Arsenyan

activities of scholarship holders Scholars Forscher:innen

Master research on Cultural Heritage and Landscape Patterns in Armenia

APPEAR scholar Adana Mirzoyan recently earned her Master’s degree from the University Salzburg. Her study used GIS to examine how medieval cultural heritage sites in Armenia’s highlands relate to elevation, visibility, and settlement patterns, highlighting the value of geoinformatics for heritage research and spatial planning.

3 min read · 01. January 2026
© Seda Adamyan

activities of scholarship holders Scholars Forscher:innen

Seda Adamyan at the Young ÖGHMP Symposium

Seda Adamyan recently took part in the Young ÖGHMP Symposium in Vienna, presenting her research on Dirofilaria and Leishmania in Armenian mammals. The event gathered emerging scientists to discuss advances in microbiology, hygiene, and preventive medicine. For Seda, it was a valuable chance to share her findings, connect with experts, and explore new approaches for studying vector-borne zoonotic diseases in the South Caucasus.

5 min read · 01. January 2026
© Seda Adamyan

activities of scholarship holders Scholars Forscher:innen

Seda Adamyan: ÖGTPM 2025 Conference Participation

The APPEAR scholar Seda Adamyan recently took part in the conference of the Austrian Society for Tropical Medicine, Parasitology and Migration Medicine Graz. She presented resulst of her PhD research on the prevalence of Dirofilaria and Leishmania species across multiple host species in Armenia, including golden jackals.

4 min read · 29. December 2025
© Harutyun Vermishyan

activities of scholarship holders Scholars Forscher:innen

Understanding Institutional Change through the Lens of Career Centres in Armenia and Georgia

APPEAR scholar Sona Balasanyan has published a new article in the international journal European Education. The paper examines how career centres in Armenian and Georgian universities, established within Bologna-inspired Europeanisation reforms, navigate complex governance structures inherited from the Soviet past.

3 min read · 29. December 2025
© Sinara Navoyan

activities of scholarship holders Forscher:innen

Migration, Gender, and Household Dynamics: An Ethnographic PhD Study from Rural Armenia

Sinara Navoyan recently completed her doctoral studies at the University of Vienna. Her research explores how international labour migration reshapes everyday life, gender roles, and power relations within rural Armenian households. Based on ethnographic fieldwork the study examines how khopan—seasonal circular migration from rural Armenia to Russia—sustains local livelihoods while transforming social and economic responsibilities among those who stay put, who are mostly women.

5 min read · 15. December 2025
© Gerald_Kwikiriza

activities of scholarship holders Appear Stipendium ...

Gerald Kwikiriza contributes to global dialogue on conserving the Lake Victoria fishery

APPEAR scholar Gerald Kwikiriza presented his PhD research World Aquaculture Safari 2025 Conference, engaging with leading researchers and policymakers committed to conserving one of Africa’s most vital fisheries.

2 min read · 17. November 2025
© Yeabsira Eshetie

activities of scholarship holders Stipendium Forscher:innen

Simegn Kassa Alamirew completed PhD at BOKU University

Simegn Kassa Alamirew, a distinguished lecturer at Bahir Dar University, has dedicated over a decade to academia, specializing in social anthropology. In December 2024, she completed her PhD research on “Dietary Behaviour of Women of Reproductive Age in Ethiopia: Socio-Cultural Factors and Care for Women“ at the Institute of Development Research, BOKU University, Vienna, under the supervision of Prof. Stefanie Lemke and funded by APPEAR.

5 min read · 20. March 2025
© OeAD

activities of scholarship holders Entwicklungsforschung Forscher:innen

Leah Mwaisango Kalemela - Completion of doctoral studies at the University of Vienna

Leah Mwaisango Kalemela has defended her PhD on “Life Experiences of Children Living in Child-headed Households in Tanzania” at the University of Vienna in March 2024.

4 min read · 07. October 2024