resume

Work History

since April 2021

Research Associate

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

I am a PhD student and research assistant in the BMBF-funded project "De:Link//Re:Link. Local Perspectives on Global Processes of Interconnectedness and Disconnectedness." In my research, I am exploring the question of whether the cultural field in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam has changed since the establishment of the Chinese Confucius Institutes, and if so, how.

Jul 2020 - Dez 2020

Graduate Assistant

Robert Bosch Stiftung

I worked for six months in the division "Robert Bosch Academy & political partnerships" as a graduate assistant. I was actively involved in the selection process of fellows and executive preparation to high-level international panels, had a thorough insight into project management and did some research work.

Oct 2018 - Jul 2019

Student Assistant

Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO), Germany

As a student assistant at the Berlin based Leibniz research institute ZMO, I worked for the institute's vice director Prof. Kai Kresse. I organized workshops and group meetings and assisted with literature research as well as administrative tasks.

MAY 2018 - JUL 2018

Intern

Goethe-Institut Kigali, Rwanda

As an intern at the Goethe-Institut Kigali, I organized events, served as a contact person for a group of game developers, managed the institute's social media, compiled press reports and conducted research assignments. I also did event photography.

JUN 2016 - JUL 2016

Intern

die tageszeitung (taz), Germany

I did my internship in the economic and environmental editorial office of the daily newspaper taz. Besides interviewing social activist like Jorge Acosta Orellana from Ecuador and Ana Asti from Brazil, I wrote reports about genetically modified cotton in Burkina Faso, microplastic pollution and a protest campaign against Tripadvisor. Furthermore I wrote a concert review of the Kenyan-Congolese band "Les Mangelepa" and several product reviews.

APR 2016 - MAY 2016

Intern

Radio Bremen, Germany

During my internship at Radio Bremen, I was part of the editorial department of "Nordwestradio," the broadcasting's own cultural radio. I conducted interviews and surveys, produced a radio feature and assisted with web editing.

NOV 2014 - DEZ 2014

Intern

SODI, Germany

I did my internship at SODI in the field of public relations and global learning. I did research about the production conditions of mobile phones, edited for and published articles on the organisation's own blog, managed SODI's social media and assisted in a crowdfunding campaign.

Education

2020

M.A. African Studies

Humboldt University Berlin (HU), GERMANY

I hold a M.A. in African Studies from Humboldt University Berlin. In my studies I focused on African societies and cultures, with a special emphasis on East African literature and Swahili literature.

2017

SWAHILI STUDIES

UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

I did an exchange semester at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Here I took courses about Swahili poetry and translation of Swahili literature.

2016

B.A. AREA STUDIES ASIA/AFRICA

Humboldt University Berlin (HU), GERMANY

I got my Bachelor degree at Humboldt University Berlin. My focus lay on East Africa's history, German colonial history, Swahili & Swahili literature and postcolonial theory.

2015

POLITICAL SCIENCE & HISTORY

University of Nairobi, Kenya

I went to the University of Nairobi as an exchange student and studied the East African political system as well as East African history since 1900.

2013

SWAHILI STUDIES

The State University of Zanzibar, Tanzania

I did a four-week intensive language course at the State University of Zanzibar in Stone Town, Tanzania and attained the Kiswahili Certificate for Foreigners of Advanced High Level.

Language Skills

German

English

Kiswahili

Research Skills

Literature Studies

Area Studies / African Studies

Swahili Studies

Historiography

Design Skills

Photoshop / Gimp

InDesign

Lightroom / Darktable

Testimonials

KAI KRESSE

VICE-DIRECTOR / Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) & Professor / Freie Universität Berlin (FU)

I appreciate his excellent specialist knowledge in various relevant areas of African studies. A very capable independent thinker is growing up here.

Katharina Hey

Director / Goethe-Institut Kigali

He is a very creative, open-minded and positive person who was very open to all types of tasks in the different fields of work. He contributed highly to the content development thanks to his wide knowledge and experience in the regional and cultural context.

Beate Willms

Head of department / Economic & Environmental Editorial Office / taz

Daniel Koßmann showed a very high level of initiative and commitment during his internship. He is very diverse in his interests and always completed the tasks assigned to him reliably and on time.