Meet our doctoral students and graduates. Explore their research interests, international backgrounds, academic progress, selected publications, and the professional paths pursued by our alumni.
Current PhD Students Explore our doctoral students, research topics and selected publications
Lakni Kumarasiri
Country of Origin
Sri Lanka
Academic Status
PhD Student
Research Topic
Ritual Movement Practices in Contemporary Veddha Culture of Sri Lanka
SELECTED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
- The Role of Movement in the Džolomari Ritual of North Macedonia. Arts & Communication, AccScience Publishing, 2026.
- The Transformation of Veddha Identity into a Modern Myth in Sri Lanka. Különleges Bánásmód – Interdiszciplináris Folyóirat (Special Treatment Interdisciplinary Journal), University of Debrecen, Hungary, 2026, Vol. 12(1), pp. 91–100.
- Bridging Traditions: A Study of Cultural Connections Between Vedda Dance and Sabaragamuwa Dance. Különleges Bánásmód – Interdiszciplináris Folyóirat, University of Debrecen, Hungary, 2025, Vol. 11, pp. 99–108.
Mirlan Alymbaev
Country of Origin
Kyrgyzstan
Academic Status
PhD Student
Research Topic
Sociocultural and Civic Identity in Bishkek’s New Settlements: A Comparative Study of Ak-Ordo and Ala-Too
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Alymbaev, M. (2024). The Cultural and Social Identity of Urban Residents: A Case Study of Ak-Orgo and Ala-Too New Settlements. University of Debrecen, Faculty of Education for Children and Special Educational Needs, Hajdúböszörmény, Hungary.
- Alymbaev, M. (2024). Issues of Urbanizations in Kyrgyzstan: New Settlements of Bishkek. Különleges Bánásmód – Interdiszciplináris Folyóirat, 10 (Special Issue), pp. 35–45.
- Alymbaev, M. (2022). New Settlements in Bishkek: Law, Urban Space, Culture and Socio-Economic Development. Ethnographica et Folkloristica Carpathica, pp. 99–122.
Mungunchimeg Batsaikhan
Country of Origin
Mongolia
Academic Status
PhD Student
Research Topic
The Impacts of Tourism Local Residents’ Everyday Life and Culture: A Case of Khuvsgul Lake National Park, Northern Mongolia
SELECTED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
- Batsaikhan, M. (2026). Tourism in Khuvsgul Lake National Park, Northern Mongolia. Különleges Bánásmód – Interdiszciplináris Folyóirat , 12(1), 19–28. DOI
Rusyanti Rusyanti
Country of Origin
Indonesia
Academic Status
PhD Student
Research Topic
The Phenomenology of Things: The Legacy of Martaban Jars in Borneo, Indonesia
SELECTED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
- Rusyanti (2026). Beyond Barthes: Visual Power from Three Photographs from Borneo, Indonesia. Különleges Bánásmód (Special Treatment Journal), University of Debrecen. DOI
- Rusyanti, Sunarningsih, Katrynada Jauharatna, Sigit Eko Prasetyo, Prahara Iqbal, Harry Octavianus Sofian, Adi Dian Setiawan, M. Fadlan S.I. (2025). Highland Potsherds and Post-Sriwijaya Pottery Industry in Lampung, Indonesia: A Granulometric Analysis. SPAFA Journal, Vol. 9. DOI
Damaris Simuli Werunga
Country of Origin
Kenya
Academic Status
PhD Student
Research Topic
Redefining the Roles of Women in the Bukusu Community of Bungoma County in Western Kenya
SELECTED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
- Werunga, D. S., & Biczó, G. (2026). Negotiating Change: Missionary Encounters and the Transformation of Women's Roles among the Bukusu in Bungoma County, Kenya. Special Treatment, 12(SI), 151–159.
- Werunga, D. S., & Biczó, G. (2025). Cultural Hybridity Patterns: Media Culture's Influence on Women's Identity and Roles in Contemporary Kenya. African Identities, 1–19.
- Werunga, D. S., & Biczó, G. (2025). Exploring Traditional Roles of Women among the Bukusu in Precolonial Kenya. Különleges Bánásmód – Interdiszciplináris Folyóirat , 11(SI), 169–185.
Jose Antonio Lorenzo Tamayo
Country of Origin
Philippines
Academic Status
Completed Doctoral Studies (Absolutorium)
Research Topic
Sayaw ng Pagbati: Deconstructing Practice, Cultural Memory, and Ritual in a Southern Tagalog Easter Tradition
SELECTED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
- Tamayo, J. A. L. (2026). Materializing Devotion: Exploring Identity Negotiation in Parañaque City's Sayaw ng Pagbati. Különleges Bánásmód, 12(Special), 123–136. DOI
- Tamayo, J. A. L. (2025). Sayaw Ng Bati: The System Of Easter Dance Sponsorship In Angono, Rizal, The Philippines. Különleges Bánásmód, 11(Special), 187–199. DOI
- Tamayo, J. A. L. (2024). Lent and Easter in the Philippines: Catholic Religious Practices in the Discourse of Gender Performativity. Különleges Bánásmód, 10(Special), 123–134. DOI
Fernanda Lucia Maes
Country of Origin
Brazil
Academic Status
Completed Doctoral Studies (Absolutorium)
Research Topic
The Architecture of the Immigrant – Hungarian Architecture in Brazil and Architectural Paths of Veszprém
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Maes, F. L. (2025). Cultural Heritage and Migration: The Architecture of Immigrant Communities. Különleges Bánásmód.
- Maes, F. L. (2024). Cultural Resistance and Collective Memory: The Impact of Nationalism of the Vargas Dictatorship on Hungarian Heritage in Jaraguá Do Sul – SC. Special Treatment – Interdisciplinary Journal.
- Maes, F. L. (2023). Hungarian Cultural-Ethnic Heritage in Brazil: The Hungarian Cultural Route. Belvedere Meridionale.
Meryem Madili
Country of Origin
Morocco
Academic Status
Completed Doctoral Studies (Absolutorium)
Research Topic
Cultural Patterns of Ethnic Minority Groups
SELECTED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
- Madili, M. (2026). Commoditised the Sacred: Gnawa from Rituals and Traditions to Stardom. Különleges Bánásmód – Interdiszciplináris Folyóirat, 12(1), 101–108. DOI
- Madili, M. (2025). The Lazarki Procession in Inyevo, Radoviš: Ritual and Tradition in North Macedonia. Ethnographica et Folkloristica Carpathica, 27. DOI
- Madili, M. (2025). Women in the Gnawa Community in Morocco: Psychotherapy, Spirits Possession and Healing. Különleges Bánásmód – Interdiszciplináris Folyóirat, 11(SI), 109–118. DOI
PhD Alumni Discover our graduates, their research and professional achievements
Nazira Abdinassir
Country of Origin
Kazakhstan
Academic Status
PhD Graduate
Doctoral Research
Multicultural Dynamics and Ethnic Interactions in the Turkestan Region
Current Workplace
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan
Senior Lecturer; Coordinator of Educational Programs in Cultural Anthropology
SELECTED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
- Abdinassir, N. (2025). The Role of Religion in Interethnic Marriages in Turkestan: Insights from Field Research in Five Villages of the Turkestan Region, Kazakhstan. Különleges Bánásmód, 11(SI), 7–23. DOI
- Abdinassir, N. (2025). The Role of National Values in Interethnic Marriages in Turkestan. Különleges Bánásmód, 11(4), 45–58. DOI
- Abdinassir, N. (2024). Assimilation and Acculturation Processes in the Study of Inter-Ethnic Marriages. Különleges Bánásmód, 10(SI), 7–21. DOI
How My PhD Shaped My Professional Career Click to read the alumni's personal reflection
My doctoral journey at the University of Debrecen was a truly life-changing experience that transformed not only my academic career but also my vision of what I could contribute to the future of higher education in Kazakhstan.
Building on the knowledge, international academic experience, and research expertise I gained during my PhD studies, I have played a pioneering role in establishing Kazakhstan's first bachelor's and PhD educational programs in cultural anthropology, which I currently coordinate at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.
As a senior lecturer, my work focuses on advancing cultural anthropology through teaching, ethnographic research, curriculum development, and mentoring a new generation of scholars.
My doctoral education empowered me to move beyond individual academic achievement and become an active contributor to the institutional development of anthropology as an academic discipline in my country.
What began as a personal academic ambition has grown into a meaningful mission: to create new opportunities for future anthropologists, strengthen international academic connections, and contribute to the advancement of anthropological scholarship in Kazakhstan.
Nazira Abdinassir
PhD Alumna, University of Debrecen