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Laura Cwalina M.A.

Laura Cwalina is a research assistant and PhD student in American Studies at Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, where she finished her Master of Arts in Comparative Studies. She is also part of the teaching and research project UNIVERSEH (European Space University for Earth and Humanity). Her research interests include Critical Outer Space Studies, Care Studies, Posthuman Studies and Life Writing. Her Research Project/Dissertation is titled “Cultural Narratives of Outer Space: North American Astroculture and Planetary Care in the Second Space Age”.

Since 04/2025Research assistant and PhD student in the American Studies department, HHU Düsseldorf
10/2022—03/2025Master of Arts – Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf
Comparative Studies in English and American Language, Literature, and Culture
Thesis: “Care Relationality in the Anthropocene: Negotiating Posthuman Relations in Martha Wells’s The Murderbot Diaries”
11/2023 – 03/2025Tutor for “Introduction to American Literature”, American Studies department, HHU Düsseldorf
06/2022 – 03/2025Student assistant for UNIVERSEH (European Space University for Earth and Humanity)
Student assistant in the American Studies department, HHU Düsseldorf
06/2022 – 08/2022Internship publishing house “Marzellen Verlag”, Cologne
10/2018 – 02/2022Bachelor of Arts – Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf
Major: English and American Studies
Minor: Linguistics
10/2021 – 02/2022Introductory tutor for first semester students, HHU Düsseldorf
09/2020 – 12/ 2020University of Reading, UK (semester abroad)
In connection with the scholarship of the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft
2020Scholarship of the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft
11/2025International Co-Teaching within (A)synchronous Online Settings: Example of the Course “Critical Outer Space Studies”
(UNIVERSEH General Meeting, University of Luxembourg)
09/2025“One (not so) Giant Leap for Womankind”: Care and Feminism in Wild Ride: A Memoir of I.V. Drips and Rocket Ships
(FutureSpace Project // Ethnographies of Outer Space: Imaginaries, Infrastructures and Interventions, University of Vienna)
04/2025Vernissage „Ein unendlich dunkles Erbe: Die faschistischen Wurzeln der modernen Weltraumforschung“ (HHU, UNIVERSEH and Bürgeruni; co-organization and speaker)
04/2025Spring School Human Differentiation - Understanding the Cultural Making of Human Categories (Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz; participant)
2024-2025Seminar and Workshop “Colonialism, Imperialism, Fascism - The Futures and Legacies of Modern Space Exploration” (HHU Düsseldorf and Université Toulouse, Jean Jaures; co-organization)
12/2024Interdisciplinary Workshop “Unpacking Black Boxes?” Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf (co-organization and speaker)
2023Digital Cultures & Economic Modeling Workshop of the DFG Research Network ‘Model Aesthetics – Between Literary and Economic Knowledge’ (co-organization)
2022UNIVERSEH Lecture Series “Critical Outer Space Studies” (co-organization)
2022Rheinländisches Verbundszertifikat (didactic training for tutors, participant)
  • Critical Outer Space Studies: Astroculture and the Second Space Age. HHU Düsseldorf, in cooperation with Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès. Winter term 2025
     
  • Introduction to North American Astroculture. HHU Düsseldorf. Summer term 2025
  • DGFA – German Association of American Studies
04/2025Vernissage „Ein unendlich dunkles Erbe: Die faschistischen Wurzeln der modernen Weltraumforschung“ (HHU, UNIVERSEH and Bürgeruni; co-organization and speaker)