Rachely Rauchwerger is interested in the variety of perceptions and ideas across the Indian ocean. She aims to dive into Jawi interlinear medical texts from Sumatra as a measure to deepen her understanding of culture, history, gender and ideology in the region. Such aspects are often reflected through any local science of healing and definition of disease, as medicine is not merely a profession, but a carrier of beliefs and social norms which may either influence or be used as part of its toolset. The intricacies of human nature alongside local society are thus revealed. Though the research is mainly conducted by using historical research methods, her interest in traditional medical systems as a means of achieving a deeper understanding of human societies was ignited by Medical Anthropology. While volunteering and initiating various projects for fellow department students during her BA, she won an Erasmus scholarship for a student exchange at Heidelberg University, where she was introduced to this field of research. 

Rachely joined Textual Microcosms in October 2024, as a MA student at the Asian Studies department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She holds a BA in History and Asian Studies with a focus on Indonesia and India from the same university and previously won the Asian Sphere Scholarship for MA students.