Struppe-Schanda, Julia

I first came across the Institute years ago through publications in the Oñati Socio-Legal Series, where I discovered key literature that later shaped my PhD project. When I learned about the fellowship opportunities, the Institute immediately felt like an ideal academic home—one I had long hoped to visit. Receiving the Residence Grant has been an exceptional privilege. It gave me something increasingly rare in academic life: uninterrupted time to think, read, and write. The calm surroundings, the everyday rhythm of Oñati, and the many inspiring conversations at the Antia Residence created a truly engaging intellectual environment. During my stay, I developed a proposal that will be important for my future scientific career. My work focuses on the emotional experiences of legal professionals involved in intimate partner violence criminal trials in Austria. Using qualitative-ethnographic methods—including court observations and interviews with judges, prosecutors, and victim-support lawyers—I situate my project at the intersection of feminist social psychology, socio-legal studies, and law-and-emotion research. The Institute, its library, and the Residence offered exactly the thoughtful and stimulating setting I needed to immerse myself in my work. What makes Oñati remarkable is the diversity of disciplinary backgrounds, approaches, and experiences within its community. Beyond the academic environment, the warmth of the town and its people left a lasting impression on me. Even without speaking Spanish or Basque, communication always found a way—through gestures, smiles, patience, and genuine kindness. I leave not only with meaningful progress on my research but also with lasting memories of pintxos, local culture, and the breathtaking mountain landscape surrounding the valley. I am truly grateful to the Institute for granting me this opportunity and to everyone who make it such a welcoming place for visiting researchers. I very much hope to remain connected to Oñati in the years to come.