Flora MALVERDE, Class of 2020

Can you tell us about your academic background?

After three years of literary preparatory classes, I enrolled in the Master’s in Political Philosophy and Ethics at Paris-Sorbonne University. I had the opportunity to go on an Erasmus Master's programme at the Freie Universität in Berlin, after which I started a Master's in Political Theory at the Sciences Po School of Research in Paris. My academic journey is still in progress as I’m currently preparing a doctoral thesis in political science with a specialisation in gender studies at Paris 8 University Vincennes-Saint-Denis.

How did your interest in political science begin?

I took a liking to philosophy in the final year of high school, and discovered political philosophy during the second year of Higher School Preparatory Classes (CPGE). This led me to apply for a Master's degree in Political Philosophy and Ethics at the Sorbonne before beginning political science studies at Sciences Po. Political science has given me the necessary theoretical tools to understand the world around me.

What did your years of study at the Sciences Po School of Research (formerly the Doctoral School) bring you?

My years at the School of Research equipped me with a body of knowledge and theoretical resources that I still use today in my doctoral work. Joining a prestigious institution gave me confidence in myself and my abilities, as well as in the different professional opportunities that were open to me, and I have consolidated my research writing skills. I also took advantage of the opportunity offered by Sciences Po’s commitment to civic engagement, as I was fortunate to get involved with the NGO Each One (formerly Wintegreat) (*). Sadly, the second year of my Master’s finished with distance learning because of the lockdown.

Which teacher or teaching has had the greatest impact on you?

Annabelle Lever, who supervised my research thesis and supported me in obtaining a doctoral contract. The debates in her classes were fascinating, and I am still very grateful to her for having introduced us to such a rich feminist corpus. I still use the syllabus references from her classes.

What memories do you have of your school, your class, your teachers?

Good memories, on the campus in the heart of Paris, but still a little sad to have ended the year via Zoom!

What is your current role?

I’m a contractual doctoral student in political science with a specialisation in gender studies at Paris 8 University Vincennes-Saint-Denis. I work on the relationships between volunteers and exiled people in Calais, using theories of care and feminist theories of domination. I’m also a representative of the doctoral students in my research laboratory, and I teach on the Master’s in Gender Studies.

What were the main stages in forming your career plans?

I knew I wanted to do a doctorate as soon as I got my first Master's degree, but I didn’t really dare or know how to do it. My research subject took shape at Sciences Po Paris, particularly during the second year of my Master’s, where the advice of Astrid von Busekist and Annabelle Lever helped me to shape and give meaning to my research. After applying to several philosophy laboratories for which my research subject was not considered suitable, I joined the interdisciplinary laboratory where I am now, which is currently the only gender studies research laboratory in France, and which offers the possibility of carrying out fieldwork-based philosophy research.

How has your education contributed to the position you hold today?

The quality of the courses of the two-year Master's programme and the bibliographies that accompanied them are tools that are still very precious to me. The same goes for the writing skills I consolidated at Sciences Po, as well as the professional skills I gained through Sciences Po’s commitment to civic engagement.

What advice would you give to a student interested in your current field?

You must be comfortable with the thesis supervisor you choose, because this person will be your main contact when you are discouraged and will guide you in the most difficult moments. You should also not be afraid to work alone; to compensate for moments of solitude, you should embrace the laboratory life and create links with other doctoral students. This intellectual stimulation helps to keep faith in one's subject and work.

>(*) Wintegreat: Over the course of a term, the Wintegreat, now "each One", programme offers weekly courses and personalised guidance. The objective: a seamless introduction to the French language and the country more widely. The programme is open to any refugee or asylum-seeker having completed their secondary education with certification in an equivalent to the French Baccalauréat. More information.