Karin Lesnik-Oberstein

Karin Lesnik-Oberstein portrait
  • Director of Postgraduate Studies for the Department of English Literature
  • Departmental Disability Representative 

Areas of interest

I am the Director of the Graduate Centre for International Research in Childhood: Literature, Culture, Media (CIRCL).

My primary research interest is inter- and multi-disciplinary Critical and Literary Theory. I also have a research interest in those areas in which I teach, particularly anything relating to constructions of identity (gender; national, cultural, ethnic identity etc). I continue to have a strong interest in the construction of childhood in culture, including in non-literary disciplines such as anthropology, psychology, sociology, and philosophy.

Postgraduate supervision

Present PhDs:

  • Lex Nicholls (part-time; from 2021; University of Reading Regional Bursary funded)
  • Kasturi Roy Bardhan (part-time, from 2023)
  • Claire Buckley (part-time, from 2024)
  • James Gillick (part-time, from 2024)
  • Rebecca Muirhead (part-time, from 2026)
  • Alba Summerton (part-time, from 2026, University of Reading Wilkie Calvert Bursary fee-funded) 
     

Completed PhDs:

  • Dr Neil Cocks (1997-2000; full-time)
  • Dr Susan Walsh (1998-2001; full-time; part UoR bursary funded)  
  • Dr Yuko Ashitagawa (2002-5; fully ORS funded for second and third year)
  • Dr Hannah Smith (2002-5; full Reading Studentship funded)
  • Dr Louise Tondeur (2002-6; full Reading Studentship funded)
  • Dr Helen Ainslie (2006-9, full Graduate School of Arts and Humanities funded)
  • Dr Catrin Edwards (2007-10, full AHRC funded)
  • Dr Kirsty Pennicard-Wood (2004-2010, part-time)
  • Dr Yu-Kuan Chen (full-time, 2007-12)
  • Dr Evdokia (Kia) Michalopoulou (2006-13, part-time)
  • Dr Christopher Milson (2011-2016; part-time)
  • Dr Kristina West (2012-2016; part-time).
  • Dr Bonnie McGill (2015-18; full University of Reading Studentship funded)
  • Dr Anindita Roy (2014-18; full Felix Scholarship funding)
  • Dr Yuna Nam (2017-20; full-time)
  • Dr Rebecca Lindsay (2016-20; part-time)
  • Dr Elizabeth (Liz) Harris (2015-21; part-time)
  • Dr Ian Mulholland (part-time, 2013-2023, University of Reading Regional Bursary funded)
  • Dr Natthavimol (Sai) Wangsittikul (full-time, 2019-2023)
  • Dr Soma Das (part-time, 2018-2023, University of Reading Regional Bursary funded)
  • Dr Kristina Hunt (full-time, 2019-2023)
  • Dr Alexander Hellens (part-time, 2016-2024; University of Reading Wilkie Calvert Bursary fee-funded).
  • Dr Xiaoyu Hou (full-time, 2021-2024) 
  • Dr Katy Anyasoro (part-time; from 2020-26)

Research centres and groups

I am the Director of the Graduate Centre for International Research in Childhood: Literature, Culture, Media (CIRCL)

I am a member of IRSCL (International Research Society Children's Literature) and PLACIM (The Platform for a Cultural History of Children's Media).

Research projects

I have recently published a monograph with Cambridge University Press on Reading Developmental Disorders and Mental Health Issues in Literature Differently which is on Gold Open Access funded by the University of Reading and articles on theoretical approaches to children’s literature, children’s literature and neuroscience and on ecocriticism and eco-pedagogy and children’s literature.

I am consulting editor for the Korean Research Institute for Asian Women's (RIAW) journal of women's studies, Asian Women and an article and book manuscript reader for a wide range of academic peer-review journals and University presses. I am currently working on the critical theory of Artificial Intelligence. 

Awards and honours

  • 2003: Nominated as one of twelve 'lecturers of excellence' at the University of Reading.
  • 2004: Nominated as one of ten 'lecturers of excellence' at the University of Reading.
  • 2006: Nominated for the Student Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching.
  • 2010: Awarded the student-nominated Faculty Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching and Learning.
  • 2012: Nominated for a Reading Student Union 'Gold Star' award.
  • 2015: Awarded University of Reading Student Union 'Outstanding Academic Tutor Excellence Award'.
  • 2016: Nominated for a University of Reading Student Union 'Teaching Excellence Award'
  • 2018: School ‘Celebrating Success’ Award
  • 2019: School ‘Working Together’ Award
  • 2020: Nominated for the Reading Student Union ‘Teaching Excellence Award for Arts, Humanities and Social Science’
  • 2022: School ‘Rewarding Excellence’ Award
  • 2022: Nominated for the Reading Student Union ‘Teaching Excellence Award for Arts, Humanities and Social Science’
  • Full member of the Institute for Teaching and Learning (ITL)
  • 2025: Nominated for the Reading Student Union ‘Teaching Excellence Award for Arts, Humanities and Social Science’
  • 2026: Nominated for the Reading Student Union ‘Teaching Excellence Award for Arts, Humanities and Social Science’

Publications

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