Metadata
Title
Raluca Roman
Category
undergraduate
UUID
aa271944ecdd4bb8b3d61db91b5fd0fa
Source URL
https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/
Parent URL
https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/anthropology-sociology-ba/
Crawl Time
2026-03-23T19:00:08+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown 
# Raluca Roman

**Source**: https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/
**Parent**: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/anthropology-sociology-ba/

[View Scopus Profile](https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56421538300)

# Raluca Roman

Dr

- Lecturer, [School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/organisations/school-of-history-anthropology-philosophy-and-politics/)

[https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7463-3455](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7463-3455 "Orcid")

- Email[raluca.roman@qub.ac.uk](#)

2009Research output 2009: 1Research output 2014: 1Research output 2015: 3Research output 2017: 1Research output 2018: 2Research output 2019: 2Research output 2020: 3Research output 2021: 9Research output 2022: 11Research output 2023: 3Research output 2024: 2Research output 2025: 2Research output 2026: 12026

Research activity per year

## Personal profile

### Research Interests

Ethnicity & nationalism; migration; religion; humanitarianism; Roma; morality; Artificial Intelligence; anthropology of science; archives and anthropology.

### Research Statement

I am a social anthropologist, focusing on the study of ethnicity, migration, religion (specifically Christianity) and humanitarianism. I am particularly interested in the relationship between Christianity, morality and social engagement, as well as the interlinking of religious belonging, ethnicity and social action. I have conducted fieldwork among Roma in Finland and Romania, focusing on the process of religious mobilisation and religious activism.

Besides my role as a Lecturer, I also convene the MA Programme in Anthropology.

### Other

Before coming to Queens, I lectured in Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews (2017-2019), from where I also received my PhD degree (2017), having previously completed an MA in Economy, State and Society (IMESS) at SSEES, University College London (2012), an MA in Economic and Social History, University of Helsinki (2012) and a BA in Sociology, Babes Bolyai University (2009). I have also worked as a researcher at the University of Helsinki (Centre for Nordic Studies, Department of World Cultures, 2015-2016) and as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of St Andrews (School of History, 2018-2022).

### Research Focus

My primary interest lies in the study of ethnicity/nationalism, migration, religion (specifically Christianity), and humanitarianism. My research broadly focuses on the experience of religion and ethnicity, with a particular interest in the relationship between Christianity, morality and social engagement. I have conducted fieldwork among Roma communities in Finland and Romania, having previously researched the experience of religious mobilisation among the Finnish Kaale (or, as they are more widely known, the Finnish Roma). Within it, I explored the ways in which Western Pentecostalism re-shapes understandings of social relevance and ideas of development among Roma communities, primarily within the practice of trans-national missionary work, with a focus placed on the role of religious humanitarianism in this process. This shaped my further interest in the study of religious humanitarianism and the ways in which ideas of social engagement connect to specific understandings of social inequalities.

I am also interested in the study of ethnicity, migration and social mobilisation more broadly, and have conducted research on the interaction between Romanian Roma migrant worker and Finnish Roma in Finland, exploring the ways in which experiences of migration are shaped at the interaction of societal structures, community belonging and inter-group relations.

In addition to this, I am interested in ways of interlinking anthropological approaches to historical methods, with a focus placed on archives as a source of both data collection and ethnographic fieldwork, in order to better understand the ways in which history is not only written but re-written through processes of collecting and classifying. To this end, I was part of a large ERC project, "RomaInterbellum", based at the University of St Andrews (School of History), exploring processes of Roma civic emancipation during the interwar period, and looking at the manifestations of Roma mobilisation at since the start of the 20th century in Finland and Romania. As an outcome of that, I have co-edited (with Sofiya Zahova and Aleksandar Marinov) a large volume on Roma literature, titled "Roma Writings in History" (Brill, 2021), which challenges previously held stereotypes that Roma lack their own literature, and seeks to integrate Roma literary production within the history of mainstream literature.

Exploring ways to connect academic research with practical and wider societal implications, my most recent activities revolve around ways of exploring and addressing the structural inequalities faced by members of GRT (Gypsy, Roma, Traveller) communities in the UK in accessing Further Education and Higher Education. As part of it, I have co-produced (with Dr Michael Holly and EANI) a documentary on educational aspirations of Roma students living in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and am exploring ways to embed research within institutional practice. \
\
A more recent research focus also concerns the relation between religion and science (or techno-science) and how developments in Artificial Intelligence challenge notions of the moral, the sacred and religious. In this, I am particularly interested in the ways in which technological developments (particularly the emergence of social robots) re-shift our understanding of social relations and social life.

### Particulars

I have been part of several international and inter-disciplinary research projects. From 2015-2018, I was part of the Academy of Finland funded project, *Roma and Nordic Societies*, anthropologists, researching the intersection of broader state policies concerning Roma minorities in the Nordic countries and the everyday experiences of living with state directives, which led to the publication of a Special Issue in the Journal of Finnish Studies, of which I was a co-editor. I have also been part of a Kone foundation project ‘Divergent Fates: travelling circus people in Europe during National Socialism’ (2017) and, in 2018, I  joined an ERC Advanced Research Grant, “RomaInterbellum”, at the University of St Andrews, and contributed to the production of three manuscripts: “Roma Voices in History” (2021, Brill), “Roma Writings in History” (2021, Brill, of which I was a co-edior) and “Roma Portraits in History (2022, Brill).

### Teaching

**2025/2026**

ANT 2022: Key Debates in Anthropology (1/3)

ANT 2030: Skills in the Field: Ethnographic Methods

ANT 3099: Anthropology Dissertation

ANT 3150: In Gods We Trust: The New Anthropology of Religion

ANT 3153: Anthropology and Roma

ANT 7014: MA Dissertation

**2024/2025**

ANT 3150: In Gods We Trust: The New Anthropology of Religion

ANT 3153: Anthropology and Roma

ANT 7014: MA Dissertation

**2022/2023**

ANT 3150: In Gods We Trust: The New Anthropology of Religion

ANT 3153: Anthropology and Roma

ANT7007: Advanced Anthropological Methods

ANT 7008: Advanced Anthropological Perspectives

ANT 7014: MA Dissertation

ANT 7023: Anthropology of Conflict: Northern Ireland and Beyond

**2021/2022**

ANT 1007: Us and Them: Why do we have ingroups and outgroups?

ANT 7023: Anthropology of Conflict: Northern Ireland and Beyond

## Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where Raluca Roman is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

- [2](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/similar/)
  Similar Profiles

- Finnish
  Social Sciences
- Finland
  Social Sciences
- Roma
  Social Sciences
- Mobilization
  Social Sciences
- Christians
  Social Sciences
- Process
  Social Sciences
- Identity
  Social Sciences
- Pentecostal-ism
  Arts and Humanities

[View full fingerprint](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/fingerprints/)

## Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or Select a country/territory from the list\

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[Explore network further](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/network/)

## Research output

- [12](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontobookanthology%2Fpeerreviewedchapter)
  Chapter (peer-reviewed)
- [8](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Farticle&type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontoperiodical%2Farticle)
  Article
- [2](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fbookanthology%2Fbook)
  Book
- [1](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Fspecial)
  Special issue
- 2
  More

  - [**1** Book/Film/Article review](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Fbook)
  - [**1** Review article](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Fsystematicreview)
  - [**1** Digital or Visual Products](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fnontextual%2Fdigitalorvisualproducts)

- ### [Can chatbot companions alleviate loneliness in autistic users? evaluating digital companions](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/can-chatbot-companions-alleviate-loneliness-in-autistic-users-eva/)

  [Hollis, A.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/anna-hollis/), [McKenna-Plumley, P. E.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/phoebe-mckenna-plumley-2/), [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/) & [McKeown, G.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/gary-mckeown/), 02 Feb 2026, (Early online date) In: [AI and Society.](#) 14 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  - Loneliness
  - Chatbot
  - Autistic Adult
  - Social Environment
  - Neurodivergence

  4
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [I want to be a... Conversations About the Educational Aspirations of Roma Children](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/i-want-to-be-a-conversations-about-the-educational-aspirations-of/)

  [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/) (Director) & [Holly, M.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/michael-holly/) (Director), 08 Apr 2025

  Research output: Non-textual form › Digital or Visual Products

  - Roma
  - Belfast
  - UK
  - Service Provider
  - Schoolchildren
- ### [Kaale belongings and Evangelical becomings: an ethnography of Finnish Roma](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/kaale-belongings-and-evangelical-becomings-an-ethnography-of-finn/)

  [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/), 14 Jul 2025, [Brill Schöningh](#). 220 p. (Roma History and Culture; vol. 7)

  Research output: Book/Report › Book

  - Finnish
  - Roma
  - Finland
  - Archival Research
  - Europe
- ### [Ambiguous belongings and (un)certain paths: Pentecostal kale subjectivities in the practice of Finnish life](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/ambiguous-belongings-and-uncertain-paths-pentecostal-kale-subject/)

  [Roman, R. B.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/), 04 Sept 2024, *The culture of the Finnish Roma.* Markkanen, A. & Åberg, K. (eds.). Helsinki: [SKS](#), p. 93-104 (Studia Fennica Ethnologica ; vol. 18).

  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  96
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [Gender and violence in Romani and Traveller lives: methods, ethics and dilemmas](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/gender-and-violence-in-romani-and-traveller-lives-methods-ethics-/)

  Gay Blasco, P. (Editor), Sarafian, I. (Editor) & [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/) (Editor), 26 Jul 2024, [Routledge](#). 222 p.

  Research output: Book/Report › Book

  - Dilemma
  - Romanus
  - Travellers
  - Necropolitics
  - Foreground

[View all 41 research outputs](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/publications/)

## Prizes

- ### [Civic Contribution Fund](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/civic-contribution-fund/)

  [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/) (Recipient), 2025

  Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
- ### [Faculty Research Initiative Fund](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/faculty-research-initiative-fund-2/)

  [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/) (Recipient), 2025

  Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
- ### [Fellow of the Higher Education Academy](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/fellow-of-the-higher-education-academy-56/)

  [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/) (Recipient), 2025

  Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively

## Activities

- [11](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fattendance%2Fconferenceparticipation)
  Participation in conference
- [7](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fattendance%2Fworkshopseminarcourseparticipation)
  Participation in workshop, seminar, course
- [3](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Feditorialwork%2Feditorial)
  Editorial activity
- [1](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fmembership%2Fboard)
  Membership of board
- 5
  More

  - [**2** Membership of peer review panel or committee](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fmembership%2Fcommittee)
  - [**2** Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Finvited_or_keynote_talk_at_national_or_international_conference)
  - [**2** Invited talk](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Finvited_talk)
  - [**2** Public lecture/debate/seminar](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Fpublic_lecture_debate_seminar)
  - [**1** UG external examination](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fexamination%2Fug_external_examination)

- ### [Advancing GRT Inclusion and Belonging in Higher Education](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/advancing-grt-inclusion-and-belonging-in-higher-education/)

  [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/) (Organiser)

  08 May 2026

  Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
- ### [Routledge (Publisher)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/routledge-publisher-149/)

  [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/) (Peer reviewer)

  2026 → …

  Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity
- ### [Book Launch: Kaale Belomgings and Evangelical Becomings (Brill)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/book-launch-kaale-belomgings-and-evangelical-becomings-brill/)

  [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/) (Invited speaker)

  11 Dec 2025

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public lecture/debate/seminar
- ### [Finnish Anthropological Society Biennial Conference](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/finnish-anthropological-society-biennial-conference-2/)

  [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/) (Speaker)

  16 Jun 2025 → 18 Jun 2025

  Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
- ### [Finnish Anthropological Society Biennial Conference](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/finnish-anthropological-society-biennial-conference/)

  [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/) (Session chair)

  16 Jun 2025 → 18 Jun 2025

  Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference

[View all 47 activities](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/activities/)

## Press/Media

- ### [I want to be a...(Documentary on Roma students' aspirations in Belfast)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/i-want-to-be-adocumentary-on-roma-students-aspirations-in-belfast/)

  [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/)

  08/04/2025

  1 item of Media coverage

  Press/Media: Research
- ### [Interview about Roma Writings book](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/interview-about-roma-writings-book/)

  [Roman, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/raluca-roman/)

  13/12/2021

  1 item of Media coverage

  Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities