Virginia Langum first arrived to Umeå University in 2011 as a postdoctoral researcher and has been employed here ever since. She was installed as a professor in 2021. Virginia is particularly interested in how diagnoses and experiences of illness are historically and culturally framed, as well as how scientific ideas are spread, interpreted, negotiated and rejected.
Currently, she is working with 19th century sources, specifically on the phenomenon of health travel or what is generallly referred to as "medical tourism", with attention to one particular traveller's experience.
So what made you interested in applying for the teaching sabbatical?
I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to see how another university works. I have been a guest researcher at various universities, but this struck me as a different kind of experience. I felt I would get more of a sense of how a university really works through teaching.
Why did you choose the National University of Singapore?
The National University of Singapore is an excellent university, and I have not spent much time in Southeast Asia. It seems like a beautiful and exciting place to spend a term.
How did you react when you found out that you were selected as a scholarship recipient?
Well, I read the email a few times to be sure it was a yes. Then, of course, I was elated. I immediately drew up a list of questions and to-dos, but in the end, I didn't really need them. My host department at Singapore has been excellent in arranging things for us.
What do you hope to accomplish during your stay abroad? Will you be teaching any courses?
I will teach a course at master's level on literary theory. As most of my teaching is online at Umeå, I really look forward to getting back into the classroom.
What are you most looking forward to during your stay in Singapore?
I am looking forward to meeting a host of new colleagues. I also hope to visit other universities in Southeast Asia. In terms of leisure, I'm interested in exploring the hawker centres and reconnecting with old friends in the area.
What is your advice to those interested in applying for a STINT teaching sabbatical?
First and foremost, I would take the extensive guidance and support offered by the International Office at Umeå University. I would also recommend reading the reports from STINT fellows available on their web site.