Dr. Ottavia Cima Substitute for the Professorship (Heike Mayer) Economic Geography Phone +41 31 684 52 30. E-Mail ottavia.cima@unibe.ch Office 205 Postal Address University of Bern Institute of Geography Hallerstrasse 12 CH-3012 Bern
Research Current research project Places that don’t matter? Socio-economic transformation of industrial towns in Switzerland and Slovenia (SNF Project). Link Research interests Diverse economies, postcapitalism Industry, manufacturing Agri-food systems Regional expertise: Switzerland, Central Asia, Luxembourg, Nepal
Curriculum vitae Work Experience Since 2023 Substitute for the Professorship (Heike Mayer) 2022-2023 Postdoctoral researcher, Institute of Geography, University of Bern 2020-2022 Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Luxembourg 2013-2018 Research and teaching assistant, Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg (CH) 2013 Junior advisor Governance and Peace, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, Zurich 2011-2012 Junior researcher, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, Zurich/Kathmandu 2009-2010 Teaching assistant, Department of Geography, University of Zurich Education 2012 PhD in Geography, University of Fribourg (CH) 2016 Visiting scholar, American University of Central Asia, Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) 2013 M.Sc. in Geography, University of Zurich 2012 Swiss mobility exchange, University of Geneva 2010 B.Sc. in Geography, University of Zurich 2009-2010 Erasmus exchange, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Earlier Publications Publications 2021. “The ‘failure’ of cooperatives in Kyrgyzstan? A postcapitalist critique of a biased narrative”. Geographica Augustana, 33, 29-37. Link: https://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/frontdoor/index/index/docId/89035 2020. “From failure to emancipation: the case for a feminist research practice”. Feministische Geo-RundMail, 83, 55-60. Link: https://ak-feministische-geographien.org/rundmail/ 2020. Rethinking agricultural cooperatives in Kyrgyzstan: towards a postcapitalist approach to cooperation in postsocialism. Doctoral thesis. University of Fribourg. 10.51363/unifr.sth.2022.004 2015. “Expanding spaces of participation: insights from an infrastructural project in rural Nepal”. Geographica Helvetica, 70(4), 353-361. Link: https://www.geogr-helv.net/70/353/2015/gh-70-353-2015.pdf 2013. “Accountability at the local level in fragile contexts: Nepal case study”. IDS Working Paper 421. Brighton: Institute for Development Studies. Link: http://www.ids.ac.uk/files/dmfile/Wp421.pdf 2013. The journey of accountability. Translating, negotiating and performing development in rural Nepal. Master’s thesis. University of Zurich.
