Pauline Zerla is doctoral researcher in the Department of War studies where under the supervision of Professor Rachel Kerr and Kieran Mitton, she explores experiences of reintegration in the Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo. As a scholar, Pauline is interested in oral and visual histories of post-war transition, ex-combatants’ reintegration and communities return from war.

At King's, she is a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Defence Studies and a member of the War Crimes and Conflict, Security and Development research groups and the Visual and Embodied Methodologies Network. From 2020-2023, she was a research assistant on the XCEPT project, a King's project that examines violent and peaceful behaviours in conflict contexts, with a focus on trauma.

Her background is in peacebuilding, trauma, and security studies. Prior to joining King’s, she worked for various peacebuilding organisations in DR Congo, CAR, Nigeria, and others.

Research Interests

• Art and Reconciliation
• Trauma and Conflict
• Oral and Visual Histories
• Ex-combatants and Veterans’ Transition
• Reintegration and Transitional Justice
• Gender, War and Security
• Feminist Peace and Conflict Studies