Curriculum Vitae

PERSONAL DETAILS
BIOGRAPHY

Vilashini Somiah is an anthropologist who is a senior lecturer at the Gender Studies Programme at Universiti Malaya. She received her Ph.D. from the National University of Singapore, an MA from Ohio University, an MRes from Universiti Malaya, and a BA from the Universiti Malaya. She maintains a keen interest in underrepresented narratives of women, migrants, and Borneans living in the interiors. She is the co-editor of “Sabah From the Ground: The 2020 Elections and the Politics of Survival (SIRD/ISEAS, 2021), and her first book, “Irregular Migrants and the Sea at the Borders of Sabah, Malaysia: Pelagic Alliance'' with Palgrave Macmillan (2022). Outside of academia, she writes ethnographic articles on the local socio-political landscape.

To learn more about Dr. Somiah and her work, please visit https://www.vilashinisomiah.com



ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES
(Role),(Level),(Duration)
  • Editor-in-chief of Faculty e-bulletin - PULSE , Faculty, 01/07/2020 to 30/06/2022
  • PENYELARAS KLUSTER KURSUS STUDENT HOLISTIC EMPOWERMENT (SHE), Faculty, 30/01/2020 to 30/01/2021
  • Penyelaras Gender Seminar Series , Faculty, 01/08/2019 to 31/07/2020
  • Ahli Jawatankuasa Pengajian Ijazah Tinggi Fakulti Sastera dan Sains Sosial, Faculty, 01/08/2019 to 31/07/2020
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION
(Qualification),(Field),(Institution),(Year)
  • PhD (Southeast Asian Studies), PENGAJIAN ASIA TENGGARA, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
  • MA (Southeast Asian Studies), ARTS(SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES), OHIO UNIVERSITY, ATHENS, OHIO
  • MA (Media Studies), PENGAJIAN MEDIA, UNIVERSITI MALAYA (UM)
  • BA (Hons)(MediaStud), PENGAJIAN MEDIA, UNIVERSITI MALAYA (UM)
MEMBERSHIPS
(Organisation),(Role),(Duration),(Level)
  • Association for Asian Studies, Active Member, 2019 to 2020 (International)
SPECIALIZATION
(Area)
Area of Expertise
  • Human & non-human relationships
  • ETHNOGRAPHY
  • Women and Youth ; Masculinity
  • Sabah Studies (Migration and Mobility )
  • MINORITY GROUPS (Irregular migrants and Indigenous communities in Borneo)
    • TEACHING
    (Course Title),(Level of Study),(Institution),(Academic Session)
    Teaching
  • AIX3001 - ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM IN SOCIAL SCIENCES, First Degree, UNIVERSITY MALAYA (2019/2020 - 1 )
  • AZEA3306 - SEKSUALITY AND GENDER, First Degree, UNIVERSITY MALAYA (2019/2020 - 1 )
  • AZEA2306 - GENDER, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, First Degree, UNIVERSITY MALAYA (2019/2020 - 2 )
  • AIX3001 - ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM IN SOCIAL SCIENCES, First Degree (2020/2021 - 2 )
    • PUBLICATIONS
    (Title of publication in APA style)
    Refereed Journals
    2020
    • Somiah,V. (2021). The Sea is Indigenous Land Too: Negotiating Presence and Rights of Indigenous Maritime Communities in Sabah, Malaysia. SOJOURN (SCOPUS)
    Book
    2021
    • Somiah, V. (2021). Irregular Migrants and the Sea at the Borders of Sabah, Malaysia: Pelagic Alliance (Migration, Diasporas and Citizenship) (1st ed. 2021 ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Welsh, B., Somiah, V. & Loh, B.Y.H., Sabah From The Ground: The 2020 Elections and the Politics of Survival, ISEAS: Singapore (2021)
    Book Chapter
    2021
    • Welsh, B., Loh, B.Y.H., Somiah, V., Introduction: Sabah goes to the Polls, Welsh, B., Somiah, V., Loh, B.Y.H. (eds.), Sabah From The Ground: The 2020 Elections and the Politics of Survival (ISEAS: Singapore, 2021)
    • Somiah, V. & Jalil, A., Incessant Political Narratives: Perilous Migrants and the Treacherous East Welsh,B., Somiah, V., Loh, B.Y.H. (eds.), Sabah From The Ground: The 2020 Elections and the Politics of Survival (ISEAS: Singapore, 2021)
    • Welsh, B., Loh, B.Y.H., Somiah, V., Sabah after the Covid-19 Election Aftermath: Beyond New (and Old) Political Alignments Welsh,B., Somiah, V., Loh, B.Y.H. (eds.), Sabah From The Ground: The 2020 Elections and the Politics of Survival (ISEAS: Singapore, 2021)
    • Somiah, V., Usman, M.R., & Baltazar, A. Remembering the undocumented of Sabah in a panicked Malaysia Baysa-Barredo, J.M., Khoo.Y. H. & Wiratraman, H.P. (eds.) Southeast Asia, Infected and Interrupted: Elevating Critical Voices on the State of Human Rights and Peace in the Time of COVID-19 (SHAPE-SEA, 2021)
    Policy Paper
    2021
    • ASEAN Regional Study on Women, Peace and Security. (2021, March). ASEAN. https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2021/03/asean-regional-study-on-women-peace-and-security
    Mass Media(Newspaper,Radio,TV,Popular Magazine)
    2021
    • Loh, B.Y.H., Somiah, V., The right to cyberbully?, Malaysiakini, May 2021.
    2020
    • Somiah, V., Usman, M., & Baltazar, A. (2020, March 22). Remembering Sabah's undocumented in a panicked Malaysia. Malay Mail. Retrieved from https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2020/03/22/remembering-sabahs-undocumented-in-a-panicked-malaysia-vila-somiah-michelle/1848908
    • Somiah, V. (2020, September 15). What Is the MA63? And Why it Is Important to Sabah and Sarawak. https://newnaratif.com/comic/what-is-ma63/.
    RESEARCH PROJECT
    (Project title),(Role),(Duration),(Level)
    Henry Luce
  • SEANNET Collective: Neighborhood network, focus on Seremban, Co-Researcher, 2022 - 2026 (International)
    • FSSS Book Grant
  • Pelagic Alliance: Irregular Migrants and Sea at the Borders of the Malaysian State of Sabah (Book Project), Principal Investigator(PI), 2020 - 2021 (National)
    • Private Funding
  • Pelagic Alliance: Irregular Migrants And Sea At The Borders Of The Malaysian State Of Sabah, Principal Investigator(PI), 20/10/2020 to 19/10/2021, Tabung Kecemerlangan FSSS (Jaringan Alumni dan Industri) (University)
    • RU Geran - Fakulti Program
  • Activism, Technology and Politics, Co-Researcher, 15/09/2020 to 14/09/2022, Research University (Government)
  • The Interdisciplinary Medical Humanities Book Project, Principal Investigator(PI), 15/09/2020 to 14/09/2022, Research University (Government)
    • Others MOHE - Top 100 (IIRG)-HWB
  • Dis/empowering Socio-cultural, Religious And Legal Aspects Towards Early Diagnosis Of Cancer Among Urban B40 Women, Co-Researcher, 28/11/2019 to 27/11/2022, Research University (Government)
    • SUPERVISION
    Postgraduate Student
    (Title of Thesis),(Name of Candidates),(Institution),(Academic Level)
    Ongoing
    • Positioning Analysis of New Mothers Narrative in the Transition Back-to-work After Childbirth, WONG YEE VON, University of Malaya (UM) (Post Graduate Student)
    • HETEROSEXUAL MALAYSIAN MEN S SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS WITH OTHER MEN: THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF ETHNICITY AND RELIGION, Christine Maryanna a/P Gabriel, University of Malaya (UM) (Post Graduate Student)
    • Social Integration Among Japanese Singaporean Mixed-Race Children in Singapore: Ethnicities and Gender, Kayoko Matsumura, University of Malaya (UM) (Post Graduate Student)
    • A decade of a Vibrant Socio – Political Women Movement Sindhiani Tehreek in Sindh (1980- 1990 ), FIZA NAZ QURESHI, University of Malaya (PhD)
    • Attitudes about fathers as active and engaged parents in Malaysia, Sabrina Aripen, University of Malaya (PhD)
    • Intergenerational Conceptions of Power among Rural Women and Girls and its Effects on the Imaginative Power of Adolescent Girls in The Gambia, Danielle Agyemang, University of Malaya (PhD)
    • POSITIONING ANALYSIS OF NEW MOTHERS NARRATIVE IN THE TRANSITION BACK-TO-WORK AFTER CHILDBIRTH, WONG YEE VON, University of Malaya (PhD)
    • The Role of Mothers and Fathers in Nationality Selection Among Japanese–Singaporean Mixed-Race Children in Singapore, KAYOKO MATSUMURA, University of Malaya (PhD)
    • Deconstructing Malaysian Men's Emotional Intimacy in Male-to-Male Friendships, Christine Maryanna Gabriel, University of Malaya (PhD)
    • Narrative Analysis of Gender Roles, Financial Autonomy, and Health Priority Among Those with Cancer in Urban Poor Families in Selangor, Noor Husna Ahmad Toha, University of Malaya (MASTER)
    SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ACTIVITIES
    (Contribution to Society),(Duration),(Level)
    • Interview, “Consider This: PH Plus - Playing The Sabah Card?',” Bernama News Channel, 26/09/2020 to 26/09/2020
    • Interview, “#LTSK: Sabah Bangkit – More Than Youth Anthem?” Astro Awani, 19/09/2020 to 19/09/2020
    • Interview, “Tea with Tehmina - Episode 20 - Educating Sabah's Stateless Children,” Bernama News Channel, 17/08/2020 to 17/08/2020
    • Interview, “Consider This: PH Plus - Playing The Sabah Card?',” Astro Awani, 29/06/2020 to 29/06/2020
    • Interview, “Consider This: Kimanis By-Election - 'Down to the Wire',” Astro Awani, 17/01/2020 to 17/01/2020
    ACADEMIC/PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
    Academic/Professional Services
    (Contribution),(Duration),(Level),(Role)
  • A talk on how to participate and contribute to gendered policy making for young Malaysian women, 27/11/2021 to 27/11/2021, National, (Panelist/Moderator)
  • Panelist at national level talk - Language & National Unity, 15/10/2021 to 15/10/2021, National, (Panelist/Moderator)
  • Panelist for national forum- Sabah s covid-19 Responses, 16/09/2021 to 16/09/2021, National, (Panelist/Moderator)
  • Interview, Perpaduan Kaum Harus Terus Utuh, RTM, Sept 2021, 08/09/2021 to 08/09/2021, National, (Interview)
  • Panelist at talk, 02/09/2021 to 02/09/2021, National, (Panelist/Moderator)
  • Examiner for MA (English)- DALIA AHMED ELHASHMI IDRIS MOHAMED AHMED, 26/08/2021 to 30/09/2021, University, (Internal Examiner)
  • Speaker at workshop, 12/06/2021 to 26/06/2021, National, (Panelist/Moderator)
  • Interview, Sabah From the Ground: The 2020 Elections & the Politics of Survival, BFM, April 2021., 06/05/2021 to 06/05/2021, National, (Interview)
  • Internal Examiner PhD- IFFAT ALI AKSAR, 07/12/2020 to 16/03/2021, University, (Internal Examiner)
    • Evaluation Activity
    (Activity),(Duration),(Category)
  • IFFAT ALI AKSAR (AVA170050) - SOCIAL MEDIA NEEDS, SOCIAL CAPITAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG WOMEN IN PAKISTAN, 2020 to 2020 (Candidature Defense (PhD) )
  • Reviewer for East Asia: An International Quarterly (Journal) , 2020 to 2020 (Article in Journal)
  • eTropic special issue on: 'Environmental Artistic Practices and Indigeneity: In(ter)ventions, Recycling, Sovereignty', 2019 to 2019 (Article in Journal)
  • Sivagamavalli Selvarajan (RGK140001) - THE INFLUENCE OF FOURTH WAVE FEMINISM ON THE FEMALE ODISSI DANCERS IN MALAYSIA, 2019 to 2019 (Candidature Defense (Master of Performing Arts))
    • PAPER PRESENTED
    (Title),(Event),(Date Presented),(Organiser),(Level)
    INVITED SPEAKER
  • Romance Through Digital Avatars: Online courtship, representation and catfishing amongst irregular female migrants in Sabah, Brunei-Malaysia Forum 2021, 14/09/2021 to 15/09/2021, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (International)
  • Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world, UNFPA Malaysia s Special Presentation commemorating International Day of Women 2021 (IWD 2021), 08/03/2021 to 08/03/2021, United Nations Population Fund (International)
  • Race and Ethnicity in Sabah, Wacana tentang Kajian Etnik, 05/01/2021 to 05/01/2021, KITA, UKM (National)
  • The East Coast Swing, Sabah State Election Primer: Borneo Goes to Polls, 10/09/2020 to 10/09/2020, University of Nottingham (International)
  • King Makers/King Breakers: Anthropological Perspectives on Sabah and Sarawak Politics , XPLORE: The International Young Scholars Xchange, 03/12/2019 to 08/12/2019, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) (International)
    • PRESENTER
  • An Interrogation of Sabah Through Anthropological Lenses, Malaysian Studies Beyond 2020: Crossing Disciplines and Rethinking Critical Approaches, 30/11/2020 to 02/12/2020, FASS, UM (National)
  • Imagined Affinity, Veridical Effects: An exploration of Taiwan s ancillary impact on network and survival amongst irregular migrants living in Sabah, Malaysia, International Workshop on Culture Politics in Taiwan, 15/11/2019 to 19/11/2019, National Chung Hsing University (International)
    • OTHERS
  • Governance and Strong Institutions, SDGs for Indigenous Peoples Stakeholder and Expert Roundtable on the Mapping Report, 20/11/2020 to 21/11/2020, JEFFREY CHEAH INSTITUTE ON SOUTHEAST ASIA (JCI) (International)