Current position
Sarah Oberbichler is postdoctoral researcher at the DH Lab of the Leibniz Institute of European History in Mainz.
Research
As a digital historian, Oberbichler integrates traditional historical methodologies with cutting-edge digital approaches. Her interdisciplinary research lies at the intersection of historical migration studies, environmental studies, transnational media studies, NLP, and (critical) AI studies. Her work has gained international recognition, with over 50 invited talks, seminars, and colloquia delivered worldwide. Her scholarly output includes 2 monographs and more than 30 articles in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes. Her research has garnered attention in both academic circles and public media, with features in regional and national news outlets and contributions to public discourse on digital humanities/hermeneutics and historical research.
Teaching
Teaching and supervision activities in higher education since 2014 (over 200 hours of teaching experience). University teaching in the areas of migration history, media studies, digitization, NLP and artificial intelligence (AI).
Supervision of internship projects as part of the master program Digitale Methodik in den Geistes- und Kulturwissenschaften at the Gutenberg University Mainz, especially in the area historical research and generative AI.
Open-Access NLP course Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 2024/25
Outreach
Science transfer via Blog Posts, Newspaper Interviews, TV-Reportage, Social Media.
Awards/Distinctions
ReMIGRA project grant co-author and co-investigator (2020-2023), multiple scholarships and fellowships including the Minnesota Doctoral Research Fellowship (2017), academic recognition through awards such as the Marianne-Barcal prize for scientific excellence (2019).
Work experience
From 2014 to 2023, research assistant in various international and interdisciplinary projects focusing on media, migration, discourse, and digital methods at the Department of Contemporary History and the Institute of Media, Communication, and Society at the University of Innsbruck. Research fellow at the University of Minnesota (USA) between 2017 and 2018. Since 2024: research assistant at the IEG in the DH Lab.
Educational background
Studies in History, German Language and Literature at the University of Innsbruck (2008-2013) and the University of Gothenburg (2012). 2014-2019 doctoral studies at the University of Innsbruck and the University of Minnesota (2017-2018). PhD in the field of Migration History and Digital Media in 2019 at the University of Innsbruck.
