Prof. Dr. Ulrike Müller-Böker was Full Professor of Geography, especially Human Geography since 1996. She focused on social disparities in developing countries, particularly in South Asia. With her international research team, she investigated which institutions, policies and development interventions are useful for improving the livelihoods of poor people. She established sustainable North-South research partnerships and attached great importance to the dialogue with politics and practice.
Area of specialization
Within the broad field of Human Geography I contribute to enhance the knowledge about the institutional dimension of livelihood strategies; local resource-use conflicts; labour migration patterns and migration industry; societal participation processes focusing on South Asia and Switzerland.
Employment and education
Employment
2002 – 2019 Full Professor (Ordinaria) of Geography at Zurich-University (Human Geography)
1996 – 2019 Head of Human Geography Unit
1996 – 2002 Associate Professor (Extraordinaria) of Geography at Zurich University
1989 – 1996 Senior Scientist at Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Dept. of Geography
1985 – 1988 Postdoctoral fellow at the Nepal Research Program of the German Research Council
1979 – 1985 Assistant and research associate at Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Dept. of Geography
Education
1993 Habilitation in Geography
1983 PhD (Dr. phil.) in Geography
1978 M.A. in Geography
1973 – 1978 Studies in Geography, Social Anthropology and Sociology at Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen / Germany
Academic positions at UZH
Since 2016 Director: Graduate Campus of the University of Zurich
2012 – 2013 Dean of Studies: Faculty of Science (per interim)
2010 – 2012 Deputy Director of the Department of Geography
2006 – 2010 Director of the Department of Geography
2006 – 2010 Directing board of MNF
Planning commission of MNF
2004 – 2006 Deputy Director of the Department of Geography
Institutional responsibilities and professional service
Commissions
2015 – 2018 President: Gender Commission of Faculty of Science
2013 – 2016 Advisory Board: MNF-project ‘Gender equality in professorial appointments’
2008 – 2016 Steering Committee member: North South Partnerships UZH
2004 – 2016 University Commission member: International Relationships
2009 – 2011 Committee: Gender Studies UZH
2000 – 2003 Committee Member: Public Relations, MNF
1999 – 2003 President: MNF-Commission: Promotion of Young Researchers, University of Zurich
Research centres and programs
Since 2012 Executive Committee: Centre for Human Rights Studies, University of Zurich
2005 - 2017 Participating professor: University of Zurich Priority Research Program (UFSP): Asia and Europe
2001 – 2013 BoD: National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) North-South
2005 – 2009 Executive Committee member: University of Zurich Priority Research Program (UFSP): Asia and Europe
Scientific boards
Since 2015 Scientific Committee member: Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS)
2014 – 2016 Scientific Advisory Board: Institute of Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences
2000 – 2008 Swiss UNESCO commission, domaines sciences naturelles
Graduate schools and mentoring
2010 – 2018 BoD: International (interuniversity) Graduate School North-South
2010 – 2017 Study commission member: Doctoral Program UFSP Asia and Europe
2006 – 2010 Director: Zurich Graduate School in Geography
2001 – 2004 Adviser: Geo-Vip - promotion of the career of female young researchers
Network affiliations
Since 2017 Council: UZH Alumni
Since 2011 Corresponding member: Austrian Academy of Science
Since 2011 Member: AcademiaNet
2001 – 2018 President (2001 – 2004), Vice-President (since 2004), honorary member: Geographic Ethnographic Society of Zurich
2013 – 2017 Council: Zürcher Universitätsverein (ZUNIV)
2010 – 2013 Council (treasurer): European Association of South-Asian Studies
1999 – 2002 Advisory Board: Interacadémique Commission de Recherche Alpine (ICAS)
Approved research projects
· “The Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora in Switzerland and its post-war forms of engagement in Sri Lanka”, SNSF (2017– 2019)
· “Employment Fund Nepal, Qualitative Impact Study Study”, Dept. of Geography, RIDA, U. Müller-Böker (lead), Helvetas (2015 – 2016)
· “Recruitment agencies in Nepal”, SDC (2013 – 2015)
· Thematic Node “Institutions, livelihoods and conflicts”, DSGZ, SwissPeace, U. Müller-Böker (lead), National Centre of Competence in North-South (2009 – 2013)
· “Negotiating rural development in South Asia’s periphery”, U. Müller-Böker. ProDoc SNSF (2008- 2011)
· Work Package “Livelihood options and globalisation”, DSGZ, Laboratoire de Sociologie Urbaine (EPFL), U. Müller-Böker (lead); National Centre of Competence in North-South (2005 – 2009)
· Individual Project “Institutional Change and Livelihood Strategies“, DSGZ, NADEL, Social Anthropology (UZH), U. Müller-Böker (lead); National Centre of Competence in North-South (2001 – 2005)
· “The Power of Images – their Creation, Reproduction and Strategic Use in the Shaping of Alpine Future”, N. Backhaus & U. Müller-Böker, NRP 48, SNFS (2002 – 2005)
· “Combining River Flood Protection and Nature Protection in Switzerland: Negotiating Institutional Change between the Logic of Planning and Societal Praxis”, U. Geiser & U. Müller-Böker (collaborators), EAWAG / WSL (2002 – 2006)
· “People and Resource Dynamics in Mountain Watersheds of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas, scientific backstopping in the field of socio-economic issues in natural resource management”, U. Müller-Böker & M. Kollmair, ICIMOD (2002 – 2005)
· “Searching Institutional Regulations for Sustainable Water Use in India and Switzerland”, U. Geiser & U. Müller-Böker, SNFS (1999 – 2002)
· “Nature and Society: Concepts of Nature exemplified by the Protected Areas of Nepal”, SNFS (1998 – 2001)
Teaching and supervision
Since 1996 responsible for and involved in the teaching program at Bachelor, Master and Doctorate level.
Supervised PhD Theses: 25 (completed), 8 (ongoing)
Supervised Master’s Theses: 225 (completed)
Reviewing
Regular reviews for scientific journals, scientific board Geographica Helvetica and Erdkunde, editorial board Journal of Development Policy, Research and Practice, Pakistan, research councils and institutions (e.g. SNSF, DFG, RCN, ETHZ, VW-foundation, NGS, SNIS), appointment procedures (Switzerland, Germany, Austria, UK, Thailand, USA, Singapore), habilitations and promotions.