Thomas Wallerberger joined the department in Fall 2017 as an Excellence Fellow.

Before joining the Rutgers German Department, Thomas Wallerberger graduated in philosophy and social work in Vienna. His research interests include the literature of the 1920s and 1930s, political theory, 20th century philosophy, and migration and exile topics with a focus on Jewish exile. His dissertation deals with a literature that finds itself between the poles of "waiting" and "deciding" in the 1930s, developing a heightened awareness of the limits and potentials of the literary. Other interests include modernist poetry, critical theory, and 19th century theory production.

Honors/Awards

IFK Abroad Fellowship, 2021-2022

Junior Fellowship at the IFK in Vienna (International Research Center for Cultural Studies, University of Art and Design Linz in Vienna), 2020-2021

Research grants from the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism and The Future Fund of the Republic of Austria. Project title: "The Persecution of Austria's Social Workers during National-Socialism". (project manager: Prof. Dr. Irene Messinger), 2020

Conference Travel Award (School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers), 2020

Neuse-Prize for Best Graduate Essay ("Das Gewaltproblem in Walter Benjamins geschichtsphilosophischen Thesen"), 2019

Graduate Teaching Award, 2019

Publications

as editor

Judith Aistleitner, Laurin Lorenz, Thomas Wallerberger, eds., Grenzüberschreitungen. Didaktische Materialien zum Literatur-Exil. Theodor-Kramer-Gesellschaft, Vienna, 2016.

Alexander Emanuely, Judith Goetz, Thomas Wallerberger, eds., Exil. Literaturund Gedächtnis. Ein Lesebuch. Theodor-Kramer-Gesellschaft, Vienna, 2012.

as author

"Der protokollierte Mensch: Jagd nach dem Flüchlingskörper." DerStandard, Wien, 05/16/2021

"Ágnes Hellers Leben und Philosophie." Zwischenwelt No.3-4/2019, Wien, 2019, pp. 12-14

"Held des Ungehorsams. Die Lebensgeschichte des Feldwebels Anton Schmid." Literatur und Kritik No. 505/506, Salzburg, 2016

"Exil im Deutschunterricht an österreichischen Schulen." Zwischenwelt No.1/2013, Wien, 2016, pp. 5-7

"Vom Recht, das Richtige zu tun. Über Schlepperei." Die Presse, Wien, 04/11/2014

"'Welcome - you are safe' On the reality and exceptions of the refugee crisis in Vienna." Political Critique. Central and Eastern European magazine of politics and culture, Warsaw, 09/14/2015

"Unvergangene Vergangenheit. Das lyrische Werk Tuvia Rübners im Spannungsfeld von Erinnern und Vergessen." Wr. Zeitung, Wien, 05/31/2014

"Schnellschritte und Standorte. 10 Gedichte." (poems) Zwischenwelt No.2-3/2014, Wien

Courses Taught

"Texte des Exils: Theorien, Grundlagen, Selbstbehauptungen."
Spring 2022, University of Applied Sciences Vienna

"Exil, Flucht und Soziale Arbeit"
Fall 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016; University of Applied Sciences Vienna

"The Language of Marx, Nietzsche, Freud" (undergraduate seminar)
Fall and spring 2019, Rutgers University

"German 132" (Intermediate German II)
Fall 2019, Rutgers University

"German 101" (Elementary German I)
Spring 2019 and fall 2018, Rutgers University