Sandra King-Savić

Sandra King-Savić is a PostDoc researcher specializing in migration studies with a focus on Central and Southeast Europe at the University of St. Gallen's School of Humanities and Social Sciences. She holds a doctorate in Organization Studies from the University of St. Gallen (2019) and has developed a robust research profile examining transnational practices, diaspora formation, and integration processes, particularly among former Yugoslav communities in Switzerland.

Her research interests span migration studies, diaspora formation, transnational practices, informal economies, and Southeast European studies. Dr. King-Savić employs ethnographic methods to explore how migrants experience and conceptualize belonging, with particular attention to labor migrants and refugees from the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Her work bridges migration theory, anthropology, and political science, consistently emphasizing emic perspectives - understanding migration from the viewpoint of those who have experienced it.

Dr. King-Savić's publication record shows a strong trajectory with her 2020 Routledge monograph 'Forging Transnational Belonging through Informal Trade' establishing her scholarly voice. Her recent work increasingly focuses on irregular migration, comparative diaspora studies, and integration theory, with multiple 2023-2024 publications examining belonging, research ethics with vulnerable populations, and transnational networks. Her research demonstrates consistent thematic development from her doctoral work on black-market practices toward broader questions of migration governance and migrant agency.

Among her notable achievements:

• Swiss National Foundation grant for doctoral research (2014-2019)
• Foreign Military Studies Office research assistantship (2011-2012)
• Co-Principal Investigator for the Horizon-CL2-2022 Transformations-01 Grant project 'PRIME' (2023-2026)
• Extensive publication record including monograph, peer-reviewed articles, and book chapters

Dr. King-Savić maintains an active teaching schedule at the University of St. Gallen, offering courses on migration studies, transnational practices, and Southeast European studies. She leads the 'Voices of the Via Egnatia' research group, which explores historical and contemporary migration routes through innovative multimedia approaches. Her current research agenda focuses on protecting irregular migrants in Europe, examining how integration is experienced by former Yugoslav migrants in Switzerland, and developing new theoretical frameworks for understanding migration and belonging.