Dzifa Peters, a German-Ghanaian visual artist and researcher and former Fellow of the Postdoctoral Programme in Integral Human Development (IHD), has been awarded the Young Scholars Prize 2026 by the Walter Benjamin Kolleg at the University of Bern, Switzerland.

The distinction recognises outstanding early-career researchers from Switzerland and abroad whose work stands out for its interdisciplinary approach and their ability to communicate research clearly and accessibly to wider audiences. Awarded annually since 2020, the prize also aims to increase the visibility of early-career researchers, foster opportunities for collaboration and contribute to their academic development.

Dzifa Peters’ work spans fields including visual culture, postcolonial studies, migration, memory and arts-based research, with a particular focus on questions of cultural and Afrodiasporic identity. She holds a PhD in Culture Studies from Universidade Católica Portuguesa and Justus Liebig University Giessen, completed under a joint doctoral degree arrangement.

The Young Scholars Prize 2026 represents significant international recognition of Dzifa Peters’ academic and artistic career and is also a source of great pride for the IHD community.