Monika Kucner

Professor Monika Kucner is a distinguished academic at the University of Lodz, where she serves as Professor in the Department of German Studies within the Faculty of Philology. She simultaneously holds leadership positions as Head of the Department of German Studies at the Institute of German Philology and Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Multicultural and Multinational Łódź and the Region.

Her research focuses on the complex cultural tapestry of Łódź, examining German-language literature and culture within the city's historical context, multicultural heritage of industrial urban centers, and Polish-German relations. She investigates how cultural and urban identity is constructed through literary texts, journalism, and memory narratives, with particular attention to Łódź as a cultural palimpsest where Polish, Jewish, and German histories intertwine. Her work on collective memory analyzes commemorative practices and founding myths in urban spaces, while her research on the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah) explores regional interpretations of this movement within processes of modernization and acculturation.

Professor Kucner has secured over fifteen significant research projects and grants, including major collaborations with the Polish-German Foundation for Science and the National Program for the Development of Humanities. Her current work includes projects such as 'Everyday Life of an Industrial City in the Light of Łódź Press Columns from 1863-1918' (2023-2024) and 'Multicultural Industrial Cities in the Łódź Region' (2024-2025). She has previously led projects examining 'German-language literature of Łódź and the region until 1939,' 'Literary Works of Evangelical Pastors from Łódź until 1939,' and 'Testimonies from the Łódź Ghetto with teaching materials.'

• Member of Kommission für die Geschichte der Deutschen in Polen
• Scientific Council of Museum of Polish Children – Victims of Totalitarianism
• Scientific Council of Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Multicultural and Multinational Łódź and the Region
• Scientific Council of Interdisciplinary Center for Urban Studies

As an educator, Professor Kucner supervises bachelor's and master's theses, mentors young researchers, and involves students in her research projects. She teaches specialized courses on the history, literature, and culture of Germans in Łódź, knowledge about German-speaking countries, and Polish-German relations. Her leadership extends to coordinating interdisciplinary research projects across multiple university units and building international research networks focused on European urban history and cultural memory.

Professor Kucner directs significant institutional initiatives including the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Multicultural and Multinational Łódź and the Region, where she coordinates research projects, organizes academic conferences, and collaborates with cultural institutions to promote knowledge about Łódź's multicultural heritage.