CV

Positions, education, exhibitions, grants, and service.

Positions

  • 2026Ishibashi Foundation Lecturer for Digital CurationChair of East Asian Art History, University of Zurich. Block seminar “Displaying the Illustrated Book: Digital Curation Module.”
  • 2024–presentPostdoctoral FellowChair of East Asian Art History (Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka), University of Zurich. Coordinator of the Chair’s digital humanities activities.
  • 2023–presentGuest Curator, Kurrus CollectionLinden-Museum Stuttgart. Edo- and Meiji-period illustrated books and prints.
  • 2023–2024Cultural Promotion OfficerAmt für Kultur Graubünden. Co-developed the cantonal heritage platform PortaCultura GR.
  • 2020–2022Scientific CoordinatorSwiss Art Research Infrastructure (SARI), University of Zurich. Project coordinator of Bilder der Schweiz Online, which located historical Swiss images on a map with citizen scientists.
  • October 2016–June 2019Technical Research AssistantThe British Museum, London. Late Hokusai: Thought, Technique, Society.
  • October 2015–September 2016Museum Intern, Japanese SectionThe British Museum, London
  • 2013Museum InternCabinet d’arts graphiques, Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Geneva

Earlier positions

  • January 2016Photography Assistant, digitization project of the Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University, KyotoDigitization of Japanese illustrated books at the Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire, Brussels, and Maidstone Museum
  • 2013–2015Founder, Vice-President, and Secretary, Völkerkundesammlung Burgdorf SocietyCo-curator of several exhibitions at the Völkerkundesammlung Burgdorf, 2014
  • 2011–2014Research and Teaching Assistant, East Asian Art History, University of ZurichArchival research on the P. Rieder Collection of Japanese woodblock prints, a private netsuke collection, and the Völkerkundesammlung Burgdorf

Education

  • 2018–2023PhD, East Asian Art History, summa cum laudeUniversity of Zurich. Dissertation on Hokusai’s drawing manuals Ono and Ryakuga. Open access in ZORA, the University of Zurich repository.
  • 2015–2016MA Museum Studies, with DistinctionUniversity of East Anglia
  • 2010–2015BA East Asian Art History, Japanese Studies, EducationUniversity of Zurich. Exchange year at Doshisha University, Kyoto.

Further training and fellowships

  • August 2022Eighth Graduate Summer School in Japanese Early-modern PalaeographyUniversity of Cambridge
  • June–August 2020Toshiba Foundation Fellow, dissertation researchYokohama
  • September 2019–June 2020Nippon Foundation Fellow, advanced JapaneseInter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (Stanford IUC), Yokohama
  • July 2016Kadokawa Summer School “Animating Life”University of Tokyo
  • March 2014–February 2015Language exchange, JapaneseDoshisha University, Kyoto

Exhibitions and collections

Stephanie Santschi standing between the exhibition posters for Entdeckerlust and Japan Sammeln
With the posters for Entdeckerlust and Japan Sammeln, 2014.
  • 2023–2026Kurrus CollectionGuest curator. Research and digital curation. Linden-Museum Stuttgart.
  • 2020–2022Bilder der Schweiz Online (Images of Switzerland Online)Project manager. Digital curation of data and research practices. University of Zurich.
  • 2024Made in JapanEditorial language assistance. Kunstmuseum Basel.
  • 2018Kofun-period displays, Mitsubishi Corporation Japanese GalleriesCo-curator. The British Museum.
  • 2017Hokusai: beyond the Great WaveTechnical research assistant. The British Museum.
  • 2016Looking Beyond: Conversations between John Berger and John ChristieCollection manager. Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich.
  • 2014–2015Entdeckerlust: Burgdorfer in OstasienCo-curator. Schloss Burgdorf.
  • 2014–2015Japan Sammeln: Nihon o YobiyoseruCo-curator. Japan Information and Cultural Center, Bern.
  • 2014–2015Le geste suspenduIntern. Cabinet d’arts graphiques, Geneva.
  • 2013Konnichiwa!Co-curator. Creaviva, Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern.

Awards and grants

  • 2026FAN Award, University of ZurichOutstanding scientific achievement in the humanities and social sciences
  • 2025–2026Career Grant, Graduate Research Center, University of ZurichDrawing from the Crowd, implementation
  • 2025micro_innovation Grant, teaching fund of the University of Zurich (Universitäre Lehrförderung)AI_d
  • 2024–2025The Nippon Foundation, Nippon Social Innovation ChallengeDrawing from the Crowd, prototype
  • 2024Postgraduate Travel Scholarship, University of Zurich
  • 2023Postgraduate Travel Scholarship, University of Zurich

Earlier scholarships and grants

  • 2020Toshiba International Foundation, Summer Research ScholarshipJapan
  • 2019–2020Nippon Foundation Fellowship and Alumni Scholarship of the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language StudiesStanford IUC, Yokohama
  • 2018Japan Foundation and Toshiba International Foundation, Travel GrantFor the conference of the European Association of Japanese Resource Specialists (EAJRS)
  • 2015–2016Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Postgraduate StudentshipUnited Kingdom
  • 2014–2015Exchange Studentship, International Relations Office, University of ZurichJapan

Service

  • Since 2024President, KIZUNAJapan Exchange Alumni Association in Switzerland. Member since 2010. Founder of its LinkedIn group, 2023.
  • 2019–2025Lecturer, Swiss-Kansai Student Exchange Program Alumni Society

Memberships

  • Since 2025European Association for Asian Art and Archaeology (EAAA)
  • Since 2025Nihon kinsei bungaku kai 日本近世文学会Japanese Early Modern Literature Association
  • Since 2025Association for Asian Studies (AAS)
  • Since 2023Kokusai Ukiyo-e Gakkai 国際浮世絵学会International Ukiyo-e Society. Member and presenter.
  • Since 2021The Nippon Foundation Scholars Association
  • Since 2017European Association of Japanese Resource Specialists (EAJRS)

Talks are listed on the Talks page. Download the CV (PDF).