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I am working as Research Fellow at the Center for Conflict Studies of the Philipps-University of Marburg in Germany. Prior to that, I received my Doctorate in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies from the Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg in Germany.

In the context of Forced Migration and Refugee Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies, my research focus is on governance, refugee protection and assistance, conflict-induced displacement, gender as well as sexual and gender-based violence. My regional focus is on Africa, in particular East Africa and Uganda.

In addition to research, I have also worked for international organizations such as UNICEF, GIZ and World Vision in refugee assistance, human rights and gender mainstreaming in Uganda, Germany and other countries.

Nigeria, Indonesia, Myanmar

patterns of violence in mass atrocities, enforced disappearance, gender, feminist conflict analysis, politics of victimhood, Latin America, narratives, qualitative research methods, humanitarian evidence synthesis, research ethics and 'lean research'

Comparative Politics, International Relations, Socio-legal Studies, Sub-Saharan Africa, Gender, Qualitative Research Methods

Lakin's dissertation examines local perspectives of memory and justice in the aftermath of genocide and mass atrocities, using Rwanda as the primary case study. Samantha's preliminary research and existing literature suggest that symbolic forms of justice can have a positive impact on people who, via different memory practices, seek redress and healing outside of legal channels. Yet, very little research has explored this complicated process. This study will contribute to it in two ways. First, it will provide insight into how genocide survivors, former perpetrators, ordinary citizens, and state officials understand and utilize symbolic justice to achieve their respective goals. Second, the focus on memorialization, commemoration, and personal memory practices will illustrate how efforts to realize justice through symbolic means can inform existing theories of transitional justice more broadly. After conducting 40 open-ended interviews in Rwanda, reviewing archival documents (speeches, written testimonies, etc.), and engaging in direct observation of commemorative and memorial practices, Samantha's project uses these methods and sources to examine how genocide survivors, former perpetrators, ordinary citizens, and state entities variously respond to memorial mechanisms. Documenting differences within and between these groups will create a new understanding of the multiple, competing, and coinciding perspectives involved in post-conflict recovery, and more broadly, human resilience after conflict.

Peacekeeping, conflict management

Population, Development & Urbanization

peace and conflict; human rights; international human rights legal regime; transitional justice; Colombia; quantitative methods; large-N data projects; mixed methods

Civil war

Gender

Youth

Peacebuilding

Peacemaking

DDR

Transitions from war

Community based peace education