Adriana Rahajeng Mintarsih
Sociology University at Albany SUNY Adriana's dissertation focuses on children affected by parental migration. She will be doing ethnographic research in Jember and Banyuwangi to investigate how left-behind children make meaning out of as well as cope with their parents’ migration and exercise agency in different stages of their lives. Moreover, it will investigate the extent to which the negative effects of parental migration on children can be mitigated and children's agency can be fostered with and without the existence of a community-based intervention that involves different individuals and groups for empowering children. This research will be able to offer some recommendations for program as well as policy-makers in Indonesia. 
Andri Andriansyah
Education and Human Ecology The Ohio State University Andri is interested in investigating literacy teaching and learning for early childhood student-teachers in preparing their teaching in the strategic teaching for early childhood classroom. It includes investigations of opportunities to develop literacy skills in the classrooms, instructional approach, types of discussion, types of assignments, and various available texts and artifacts. He will focus on learning and observing the task that the Indonesian student-teachers complete outside this study but required by the Indonesian government, the nature of literacy tasks that student-teachers engage as part of this study, and how they respond to a children’s literature-based focus. . |
Ahmad Munjizun
History, Animal Science North Carolina State University Ahmad’s dissertation explores morphometric characteristics of local racehorses, feeding system and owners’ perceptions on their horse body conditions in West Nusa Tenggara. His research will involve the racehorse community in several regions in both Lombok and Sumbawa Islands in the province. He aims to enrich scientific resources about current practices in equine husbandry and to help contribute to the improvement of equine welfare in Indonesia. 
Arif Satria Wira Kusuma
Biological Pharmacy Universitas padjajaran/Rutgers Arif’s project aims to discover potential drugs for Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease (PMD), a congenital X-linked leukodystrophy caused by proteolipid protein 1 (PLP1) mutations. The prevalence of PMD cases in the world lies within the range of 1:90,000 to 1:750,000, yet no cases of PMD have ever been reported in Indonesia. This indicates that PMD is either under-screened or misdiagnosed as other diseases. Common clinical presentations of PMD include early onset of the disease, massive Oligodendrocytes (myelinating cells) death, demyelination, inability to move or speak, muscle stiffness, and seizures. In some severe PMD cases, lethality occurs within the first decade of life. Currently, there are no available treatments for PMD. Thus, by using a direct cellular reprogramming approach, Arif produced engineered human Oligodendrocytes precursor cells from patient-derived skin cells which will then be used as a time- and cost-effective PMD drug discovery platform. Arif will also work with his team from Universitas Padjadjaran to identify PMD patients in the West Java region. |
Atmaezer Hariara Simanjuntak
Anthropology Northwestern University Ara's dissertation investigates the multiscalar debt relations that shape and are shaped by Indonesia’s effort to financialize its’ oil palm plantation economy following the 2007/8 financial crisis. He will conduct ethnographic fieldwork among workers, financiers, corporations, and regulators who together constitute what we now call the plantation economy. By bringing together literature on financialization, plantation studies, and the state, he seeks to offer a new theorization of debt and development as seen from the global South and contribute to establishing a more democratic financial system especially as it relates to contemporary plantation governance. 
Desi Curriculum & Instruction University of Minnesota Teaching science not only involves attention to scientific content, but also the mathematical equations that represent relevant scientific phenomena. Desi’s research examines the current instructional approaches to mathematical equations in science from the sensemaking perspective, as well as determining how the specific science topic influences an instructor’s pedagogical decisions and enactment around sensemaking. She will observe the instructors’ teaching practices in undergraduate chemistry classrooms at a public university in Sumatra. She will also interview instructors about how they develop lessons and what factors they look at when incorporating mathematical equations in their lessons. Findings from her study can guide researchers and educators in developing curriculum and creating effective interventions that can elevate students’ sensemaking of mathematical equations in science. 
Dimas Hartawan Wicaksono
Architecture University of Oregon Dimas aims to provide a deeper understanding of people in urban vernacular settings and how their belief system is manifested in architectural and spatial practices in the modern world. He plans to explore the translation of these practices from the traditional rural environment to urban vernacular settings. He utilizes a mixed-method research model to investigate the patterns of Balinese domestic and public spaces: the occupants, the activities, and the spatial innovation that occurs as people experience complex constraints related to urbanization, customary cultural order, and the system of worship. 
Eunike G. Setiadarma
History Northwestern University Nik's dissertation explores the intellectual history of mutual care in Indonesia from the 1900s to the 1960s grounded in the everyday life at home and neighborhood. Nik will examine and analyze the production and circulation of magazines, domestic manuals, know-how books, and cookbooks as part of the research. Their research contributes to the modern history of emotions and knowledge production in the region. 
Mirna Nadia
Sociology Northwestern University Through comparative analyses, Mirna's project examines variations of state responses to dissents involving different minority groups and the extent to which ideology matters to the changing relationship between state authorities, minority groups, and the broader community. Mirna hopes her study may promote community advancement through social and political actions. 
Muhammad Taufiq Al Makmun
American Culture studies Bowling Green State University Taufiq's research will closely observe the cultural and physical landscape of Solo, Indonesia, over time to represent the city's continuous negotiations with structuring global modernity and American global cultural influence. The ethnographic transnational American culture study will contribute to American culture studies in addressing American cultural influence in Indonesia and enriches the study of globalization, culture, and the dialectics of local-global culture in changing a city space. For Solo city, the research result could reflect the city's development and changing landscape over time to represent continuous cultural negotiation within and with national and global influence. Furthermore, this study of Solo city may contribute to a more extensive global study addressing the dialectics of local, regional, and global culture in such extended ethnographic research. |
Cynthia Febrina Maharani
Occupational and Environmental health University of Iowa Cynthia’s dissertation will focus on occupational safety and health (OSH) dissemination to small and medium sized businesses in Indonesia. This proposed study will be relevant to public health as it will address the OSH issues in small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) to improve the health and safety of the workers. While we know that certain factors, such as low-cost programs, an established organization structure, and clear communication strategy could increase the adoption and implementation of OSH programs in businesses, these may not be generalizable to SMBs in Indonesia. Further, she also anticipate providing recommendations to the Indonesian government about how to protect SMB workers from injury based on how SMBs best receive OSH information and based on what is feasible for them to implement. 
Dimas Iqbal Romadhon
Anthropology University of Washington Dimas’ research aims to understand how the memory of state violence against 1965 political prisoners found refuge in the Javanese shadow play (wayang) tradition. Dimas has conducted intensive archival research on wayang manuscripts authored by Tristuti Rachmadi Suryasaputra, stored at the University of Washington. His upcoming fieldwork in Surakarta seeks to compile narratives related to the life of Tristuti Rachmadi after his release from Buru Island in 1979 and how his manuscripts have impacted the wayang tradition and the dalang community until nowadays. This research will provide a close insight into a period within Indonesian cultural history that is frustratingly understudied. 
Endang Fourianalistyawati Human Development and Family Studies University of Wisconsin-Madison Endang plans to adapt a Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) program to be delivered online to decrease depressive symptoms in pregnant women in Indonesia. This program was conducted in person and developed to help pregnant women and their spouses prepare for birthing. The limitation of the current situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the geographic dispersion of qualified MBCP instructors and potential participants in MBCP necessitate the delivery of an online version of this program. Furthermore, this MBCP program has been conducted with White populations in English-speaking countries and individualistic contexts. Thus, Endang wants to adapt this MBCP program in Indonesia to know the influence of collectivist cultural factors may bring on these processes. 
Hermudananto
Natural Resources and Environment University of Florida Hermudananto’s dissertation focuses on improved logging practices in Indonesian natural forests through reduced-impact logging. He will be observing several logging concessions in East Kalimantan to collect data related to carbon emissions reductions, financial efficiency, and worker safety benefits. He will be measuring related variables of forest road construction that result in carbon emissions and costs. Additionally, he will be interviewing chainsaw operators to observe their safety implementation. His findings will support the Indonesian government on climate change mitigations and promote worker safety strategies in the forestry sector. He is happy to collaborate with anyone who is interested about nature and sustainability. 
Muhamad Prabu Wibowo
Information Sciences Florida State University Prabu’s project explores current practices, policies, perceptions, and impacts of open health sciences research data repository in both U.S. and Indonesian university environments. His study is based on a realization that there is an increasing global trend of open-access and sharing of health sciences data through repositories that helps in shaping e-science, modern society, and industry — on how to utilize health data for knowledge development and better public health services. His project will help Indonesian universities, research institutions, and health facilities to navigate through best practices in developing open-oriented and sharable health sciences big data repositories and policies. 
Ni Luh Gede Sri Pratiwi
History University of Wisconsin - Madison Sri's dissertation looks at the historical development of the "religion of Bali" from the late 19th century through the post-1965 era. She will explore and interrogate the historiography of Bali's religious development by engaging the full spectrum of available sources to produce a history that comprises local, national, and transnational perspectives. By engaging with diverse Balinese actors from various cultural and religious statuses, she will strive to construct a full and comprehensive narrative of the history of Agama Bali (Balinese religion) and to explain how and why it is today seen as "Hinduism. |
Novi Triadi Imande Bramono
Constructions Management University of Washington Bram’s dissertation investigates the gaps between current building codes and strategies in mitigating airborne transmission diseases, including COVID-19, in office building settings. The recent global pandemic has changed buildings’ design and operation to minimize the risk of infection spread among occupants. He will examine the current practices of office building codes, standards, regulations, and relevant policy in Indonesia, focusing on metropolitan cities by identifying the gaps in current practices, discussing and sharing knowledge, and interviewing building experts and code practitioners. He will synthesize the results to develop a risk-responsive codes policy tool to improve specific code areas to ensure a safer and healthier environment for the occupants anticipating future diseases. 
Pungki Lupiyaningdyah Biology College Life of Sciences Bringham Young University Pungki will do research on the diversity of dragonflies in West Kalimantan freshwater ecosystems. The West Kalimantan region is poorly understood in terms of our knowledge of its freshwater biodiversity and is also threatened by deforestation, road construction, and other human activities. She monitors and assesses the freshwater ecosystems using dragonflies as bioindicators. 
Susi Septaviana Rakhmawati
Translation Studies Kent State University Susi’s project investigates how cognitive load of Indonesian interpreters is affected when simultaneously interpreting with a computer-assisted interpreting tool. A mixed method of quantitative and qualitative design is adopted to collect data on cognitive load indicators through a combination of surveys, interpreters’ self-rating of cognitive load, and recordings and transcriptions of simulated interpreting practices. A practical outcome of this study is expected to be techniques and strategies to manage the cognitive load associated with using the CAI tools by interpreters. 
Yenni Rosana
Public and International Relations University of Cincinnati Yenni Rosana worked with some local and international organizations in Aceh that focus on women's empowerment. That experience led her to see the problems during the implementation of the programs. Therefore, for her Ph.D. dissertation, she focuses on the issue of the culture clash between the international donors' model and domestic challenges in women's empowerment programs in Aceh. The case study of this research is women's empowerment programs on strengthening access to justice in Indonesia by reforming the Adat Justice implementation in Aceh. Adat Justice is a legal system at the village level to solve social problems in Aceh. |
Perdana Putri Binti Roswaldy
Sociology Northwestern University Pepe’s dissertation examines Indonesia’s economic dependence on plantations since its colonial era. The research will focus on the historical plantation belt of Sumatra’s east coast. The study aims to design an alternative in which Indonesia would no longer rely on unsustainable cheap commodity production for its socio-economic growth. 
Sinta Sulistyo
Sustainability Arizona State University Sinta's research aims to inform policies for enhancing community resilience using a participatory systems-modeling approach. Her research develops a case study on the Ciliwung river watershed, the largest river crossing Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, which experiences annual severe flooding with serious economic damages and human casualties. 
Umi Saidah Technology in Education and Second language acquisition University of South Florida Umi’s dissertation examines the effects of intercultural communicative instruction delivered via 3D virtual world on EFL learners' intercultural communicative competence, foreign language anxiety, and motivation. She will conduct a quasi-experiment that compares 3D technology of virtual reality with 2D technology of videoconferencing to promote increased intercultural communicative competence and motivation levels and decreased foreign language anxiety level. 
Yunita
Electrical Engineering Auburn University Her work aims to provide better electricity service, especially in remote islands or villages throughout Indonesia. Her dissertation object takes place in Tomia Island, one of the tourist islands of the Wakatobi islands, using free and clean renewable energy such as photovoltaics to provide good quality electricity services to the people on the island. This work will be a preliminary project to continue improving other electricity services for another microgrid in different remote places in Indonesia. |