Professor Klaus Mühlhahn, currently a Professor of Chinese History at Freie Universität Berlin, has been appointed inaugural Director of the University’s Melbourne Asia Research Network (MARN).
His interests lie in late imperial, modern and contemporary Chinese history, with special emphasis on social history in the modern period and modern Chinese legal history.
Since August 2014, he has also been Freie Universität Berlin’s Vice President responsible for internationalisation.
Professor Mühlhahn will lead MARN in linking the University's existing Asia-focused centres and institutes, including the Asia Institute, the Asian Law Centre, Asialink, the Australia India Institute, the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies and the Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society, and others.
Drawing on specialist capabilities across disciplines, and the University’s long-standing commitment to research engagement with the Asian region, MARN will foster interdisciplinary collaborations and international partnerships.
The appointment of Professor Mühlhahn follows the appointment of Professor Craig Jeffrey as Director of the Australia India Institute and senior appointments in the Asia Institute including Professor Vedi Hadiz in Indonesian studies and Professor Akihiro Ogawa in Japanese studies.
Professor Julie Willis (Pro Vice-Chancellor Research Capability) and Professor Simon Evans (Pro Vice-Chancellor International) said, “Klaus Mühlhahn is an outstanding scholar and university leader. His appointment as Director of MARN will help catalyse and connect the University’s many researchers who work on pressing global issues relevant to the Asian region.'"
Professor Mühlhahn will take up his position in November 2015 and will be based in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies in the Faculty of Arts.