About Us
The Searcher is an undergraduate humanities research journal at the University of Texas at Austin, sponsored by the Department of English.
We aim to provide an outlet and resource for undergraduate students interested in the humanities to publish scholarly work and familiarize themselves with the peer-review journal process. By offering a broad platform for multiple disciplines, we hope to highlight how meaningful themes emerge and span across the humanities. Considering the lack of opportunities for publishing works examining English literature, we particularly encourage submissions of literary research.
Students have the opportunity to submit work under 3,000 words to the e-journal or work over 3,000 words to the print journal. Submission is free. Journals are accessible through the website and print journals are free for contributors. We believe in making research an accessible space for everyone, especially for our readers.
The Board
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Bassam Sidiki
Minza Mirza, Co-Founder & Editor-In-Chief
Minza Mirza is a third-year English major with minors in Journalism/Media and History. She is a writer, journalist and editor interested in partition and postcolonial literature. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and reading short story collections.
Layla Pholsiri, Co-Founder & Managing Editor
Layla Pholsiri is a third-year English major with a minor in Communication Studies, who is passionate about the intersection of literature and culture. When she is not hunched over her laptop, you can find her dancing, reading fantasy novels, or journaling.
Irene Sibi, Creative Director
Irene Sibi is a third-year Informatics major concentrating in User Experience Design/Social Justice Informatics and pursuing a Digital Arts & Media Certificate. She seeks to center and amplify silenced stories in design, art, and every facet of life. She deeply values nurturing her community and also dabbles in knitting stuffed animals, reading books about love, and doodling.
Board Photographed by Chomtale Chitsakul
Peer-Reviewers
Bindi Kaplan is a third-year Sociology major with a certificate in creative writing. In her free time, she likes reading queer literature and making tiny rooms.
Joy Wang is a third-year English and Sociology major with a minor in Fiction Writing. As a writer and editor, she focuses primarily on post-colonial and Marxist theory. In her free time, she adores reading weird fiction, thrifting, and exploring local restaurants.
Alexa Yeager is a third-year Women’s and Gender Studies and Sociology major with special interests in cultural memory, social justice, and belonging. Outside of academics, she’s a nature enthusiast and loves spending time outside running, reading, and basking in the sun with her dog Tony.
Janie Bickerton is a third-year English and Classical Languages major with a minor in Media and Entertainment Industries. While she loves to read anything and everything (except fantasy novels), her primary interest is the crossroads between music and poetry. You can often find her translating Latin, updating her Letterboxd, or listening to new music releases.
Trisha Dasgupta is a third-year Journalism major from Dallas, Texas. Her reporting focuses on entertainment and local journalism. She is currently an investigative reporter at The Daily Texan. In her free time she loves to go to concerts, read, and watch way too much prestige television.
Trinity Ngo is a third-year English and Rhetoric and Writing Major with a minor in Asian American Studies. Her research focuses on Asian American women's mental health and memories of war. However, when she isn't reading for class, she's diving into a romance novel, crocheting, and taking photos of her dog, Mochi.
Hiba Soban is a third-year Government major with minor in Spanish. She takes an interest in immigration law/justice and border rule. Outside of class, she loves reading, guitar jam sessions with her friends, and FaceTiming her cat back in Houston.
