Info-Event: Doctoral Research Collaborations in Southeast Asia

Countries across Southeast Asia – including Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines – are key partners in international research and play an important role in addressing global challenges, from future food systems and urbanization to sustainable energy. This event is aimed at TUM doctoral candidates conducting or planning field research in the region. It offers practical guidance, insights into different research approaches, and opportunities for exchange. Advanced master’s students interested in pursuing a doctorate, as well as postdoctoral researchers, are also very welcome. 

In short talks, TUM doctoral candidates will present their projects and share how they have built networks in the region that both support their own research and facilitate long-term collaborations. The event will also cover how to integrate field research and fund fieldwork within a doctoral project, as well as the challenges that come with differing academic cultures.

Topics such as logistics, funding,  language requirements, and project planning will be discussed alongside intercultural aspects, the conditions for equitable collaboration, and the development of reliable partnerships.

The short talks will be followed by a panel discussion involving all speakers and the audience. Afterward, an informal reception featuring a light buffet with regional specialties will provide an opportunity for further discussion and networking.

Look forward to the following program items:

• TUM Campus Singapore: A Gateway to Sustainable Megacity Research in Southeast Asia
  Dr. Bing Zou / Coordinator TUM Campus Singapore (TUM Asia | TUM CREATE) and TUM ForTe – Office for Research and Innovation
   
• Building a Research Network in Southeast Asia from Scratch: Persistence, Openness, and Plenty of Improvisation 
  Pietro Sala / Doctoral candidate, Chair of Agricultural Production and Resource Economics, TUM School of Management
   
• Integrating Flood Modelling Research in Indonesia into a Doctoral Project: Learning to Go with the Flow 
  Leon Frederik De Vos / Doctoral candidate, Chair of Hydraulic Engineering, TUM School of Engineering and Design
   
• Conducting research in Germany and Vietnam: Opportunities and Challenges 
  Hà Mai Lê Ngọc / Doctoral candidate, Professorship of Recent Building Heritage Conservation, TUM School of Engineering and Design

From 8 p.m.: Informal networking over a buffet featuring popular Southeast Asian dishes.