Experts Database

Migration - research - policy ||
PhD in Anthropology ||
Research coordinator Migration Policy Department, Ministry of Justice and Security, The Netherlands

I am a French research and teaching economist based in Cairo since 2014. Presently, I am heading the Research Center of ESLSCA University - Egypt. I am also an independent consultant on migration-related issues. I have recently worked with the Mixed Migration Centre (North Africa Hub), International Labour Organization (ILO Cairo Office), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Bank (KNOMAD). I earned my PhD in 2013. My current research interests are: mixed migration flows, determinants of migration and non-migration including behavioural ones; decision-making process; evidence-based migration and asylum policies.

Alissa Symon is currently undertaking her PhD in the University of Oxford under the supervision of Dr Michael Biggs. Her thesis examines the political relationship between Israel and American Jews. Her research interests focus on issues connected to the homeland-diaspora paradigm, transnational political activism, religious studies and interfaith relations.

I have over 17 years of experience as a sociologist of migration and gender (Central European University, University of Warwick), a policy analyst (European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre) and Migration and Freedom of Movement Adviser (OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights). Alongside with my research and policy work, I designed innovative ways of communicating scientific knowledge and engaging policymakers, civil society and young people in strategic and forward-looking debates about human rights, migration and integration. My latest achievement is the development of Destination Europe, an innovative educational and training tool / serious game about migration and integration governance for young people and migration practitioners. Check it out at destinationeurope.uni.lu (co-created with the European Migration Network).

I currently hold an ESRC scholarship for my PhD research at the University of Birmingham, UK. My project examines the experiences of social class of African international (SADC) students at South African universities. My research interests cover such topics as migration; regional cooperation; race, social class and inequality; aspiration and higher education; identity and belonging. My research focuses on Southern Africa and I have a long experience of living and working in the region. I'm also interested in (and have experience of) other regions of Africa as well as South Asia and the Caribbean.

I completed my BA in Development Studies with Politics (IR) and African Studies and MA in Development Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland. I have previously held scholarships at the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala, Sweden and Sciences-Po in Paris, France. I also have a BA in Social Work and have experience of working with migrants.

Cathrine Talleraas is Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and Researcher at the Christian Michelsen Institute (CMI). She holds a PhD in Human Geography from the University of Oslo. She is project coordinator and post-doctoral researcher in the project 'Effects of Externalisation: EU Migration Management in Africa and the Middle East"'(EFFEXT). In her PhD research, Talleraas studied the Norwegian welfare system’s encounter with people who lead transnational lives.

Talleraas is currently co-chair of the IMISCOE Standing Committee "Migration Politics and Governance" and board member in the Standing Committee "Reflexive Migration Studies". In 2017-2018 she coordinated the IMISCOE PhD-Network.