Dorina-Maria Buda

Professor Dorina-Maria Buda is the Faculty Dean for Research at the University of Essex's Faculty of Arts and Humanities and holds a joint appointment as Professor of Tourism and Hospitality at the Edge Hotel School. A TEDx speaker and recipient of the prestigious Rosalind Franklin Fellowship (2013-2017), her research focuses on tourism in conflict zones, dark tourism, and the emotional dynamics of socio-political turmoil. Her work bridges tourism studies with peacebuilding, exploring sites such as North Korea, Iran, and the Palestinian West Bank.

Education and Career:

• Formerly at the University of Groningen (Netherlands), University of Waikato (New Zealand), and Leeds Beckett University (UK).
• Head of Marketing and Consumer Studies Research Centre at Nottingham Business School (2020–2023).

Research Interests:

• Dark tourism, affective tourism, and emotional geographies in conflict regions.
• Role of tourism in post-conflict reconciliation and peacebuilding.
• Intersections of tourism with refugee crises and socio-political dynamics.

Grants and Funding:

• Rosalind Franklin Fellowship (€500,000), University of Groningen (2013–2017).
• NWO Dutch Research Council Grant (€250,000), 2016–2024.
• Research England grant for 'Museums’ Role in Tourism and Peace' (2024).

Awards and Recognition:

• Rosalind Franklin Fellowship, University of Groningen.
• Invited TEDx speaker for insights on tourism in conflict zones.

Labs and Teams: Leads research initiatives at Edge Hotel School and previously directed the International Centre for Research in Events, Tourism & Hospitality at Leeds Beckett University.