Mariia Kurbak

Mariia Kurbak is a Postdoctoral Associate at Washington University in St. Louis, supported by the Scholar Rescue Fund. She holds a PhD from the Institute of World History, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow), and previously served as a Senior Fellow at the Department of Regional Studies (Russian Academy of Sciences) and a Lecturer at the Faculty of International Economy and International Affairs, National Research University–Higher School of Economics (HSE), Moscow.

Her research focuses on Memory Studies, national narratives, and collective memory in Russia, particularly examining the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on Russian identity and the resurgence of traditionalism. She immigrated to the U.S. in 2022 and was awarded a scholarship by the Institute of International Education and Washington University.

• Education:
• PhD, Institute of World History, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow)
• Russian Language and Literature Minor, Global Studies
• Awards: Scholar Rescue Fund Scholarship (2022)

Her work bridges historical memory, political identity, and contemporary conflicts, with a focus on post-Soviet states.