Tomáš Hrustič

Tomáš Hrustič, PhD, is a prominent researcher at the Institute of Ethnology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava, specializing in Roma studies, ethnic and national minorities, political participation of Roma, religiosity of Roma, and social mobility. With over 14 years of experience since joining the institute in 2009, he has established himself as a leading expert in Roma studies in Slovakia and internationally.

Dr. Hrustič completed his university education at Comenius University, Faculty of Arts, Department of Ethnology - Religious Studies in Bratislava in 2002, earning his Mgr. degree. He later obtained his PhD in 2008. His international academic experience includes research stays at Charles University in Prague (1999-2000), University College London's Department of Anthropology (2004-2005) with a SYLFF scholarship, and the University of Szeged's Department of Study of Religions (2005) with a CEEPUS scholarship.

Dr. Hrustič's research focuses on the complex dynamics of Roma communities in Slovakia and Europe. His work examines political participation, religious conversion patterns, social mobility, and economic structures within Roma communities. He has pioneered research on how religious pathways can facilitate social inclusion of Roma, challenging conventional approaches to minority integration. His extensive ethnographic fieldwork, primarily conducted in marginalized Roma communities in Eastern Slovakia, provides nuanced insights into everyday life, identity formation, and resistance strategies among Roma populations. His methodological approach combines participant observation with qualitative interviews and document analysis.

His publication record shows a clear evolution from early work on religious conversion among Roma to more recent analyses of Roma political participation, responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and welfare policy support for marginalized groups. His research bridges anthropology, sociology, political science, and religious studies, with consistent attention to the intersection of ethnicity, religion, politics, and social mobility in Central and Eastern Europe.

• Cena prezidenta Slovenskej republiky udeľovaná mladým vedeckým pracovníkom (2010)
• Cena Jána Komorovského za najlepšiu vedeckú publikáciu z oblasti vedeckého štúdia náboženstiev (2011)
• Cena Predsedníctva SAV za 3. miesto v súťaži Mladých vedeckých pracovníkov do 35 rokov (2013)
• Cena Národopisnej spoločnosti Slovenska za najlepšiu akademickú publikáciu (2016)

Dr. Hrustič has supervised doctoral students through seminars on research methodology and has led numerous significant research projects funded by VEGA, APVV, and international bodies. His most notable projects include 'Patterns of social mobility of Roma in the light of empirical research' (2019-2022) as principal investigator, and 'Analysis of barriers to access to job opportunities for marginalized population groups' (2018-2022) as co-investigator. He has also provided expert evaluation for government agencies, including the Implementation Agency of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Social Development.

As a member of the Advisory Committee for the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe (2014-2018) and a permanent invited member of the Committee for National Minorities and Ethnic Groups (since 2018), Dr. Hrustič actively contributes to policy development at national and international levels. He is also a member of the Gypsy Lore Society since 2010 and the European Academic Network on Romani Studies since 2011.