Education
PhD in Sociology, Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS), University of Bremen and Jacobs University Bremen, Germany (2015)
Dissertation title: Health inequities related to intimate partner violence against women: The role of social policy in the US, Germany, and Norway
Supervisors: Heinz Rothgang, Karin Gottschall, Petra Brzank
Master of Public Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, USA (2004)
Concentration: Population and Family Health
Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, USA (1999)
Majors: Sociology and Psychology Minor: Women’s Studies
Professional Experience
Academic Experience
Senior Lecturer in Methods and Social Sciences, Constructor University, Germany (2023-present)
Coordinator of the Methods Center, BIGSSS, Constructor University (formerly Jacobs University Bremen) and University Bremen, Germany (2016 -present)
University Lecturer for Methods of Empirical Social Research, Constructor University (formerly Jacobs University Bremen), Germany (2016-2023)
Postdoctoral Researcher, Social Cohesion Radar research team under Prof. Klaus Boehnke, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany (2015-2016)
Affiliated Postdoctoral Fellow, BIGSSS, University of Bremen and Jacobs University, Germany (2015-2016)
Doctoral Fellow, BIGSSS, University of Bremen and Jacobs University, Germany (2010-2015)
Visiting Doctoral Fellow, Norwegian Social Research Institute (NOVA), Oslo, Norway (2013)
Guest Researcher, German Chancellor Fellow, Institute for Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany (2008-2010)
Graduate Research Assistant, Averting Maternal Death & Disability Program, Columbia University, New York City, USA (2003-2004)
Experience Outside Academia
Research and Evaluation Associate, Safe Horizon, New York City, USA (2004-2008)
Training Curriculum Intern, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, New York City, USA (2004)
Study Coordinator Intern, American Refugee Committee International, Port Loko, Sierra Leone (2003)
Child Support Assistant, The AIDS Support Organisation, Kampala, Uganda (1999-2000)
Other Professional Activities
Reviewer
Funding Bodies: German Research Foundation (DFG); Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
Journals: AIDS Care; American Journal of Sexuality Education; British Journal of Social Psychology; European Journal of Public Health; Frontiers in Psychology; Global Public Health; Health Care for Women International; International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; Journal of Family Violence; Journal of Happiness Studies; Journal of Interpersonal Violence; Journal of Social and Personal Relationships; Journal of Social and Political Psychology; The Lancet; Open Gender Journal; PLOS One Public Health; Psychology, Health & Medicine; Public Health; Public Health in Practice; Scientific Reports; Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology; Sociological Forum.
Publishing Houses: Springer International Publishing AG
Conferences: American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting (Student Assembly; Population, Reproductive, and Sexual Health Section; Family Violence Prevention Caucus)
Ph.D. Examiner
BIGSSS, Constructor University (formerly Jacobs University Bremen): Ekaterina Lytkina (2023, Psychology), Anne Leiser (2019, Psychology), Nadine Binder (2018, Psychology), Georgi Dragolov (2018, Sociology), Constance Volkmann (2017, Psychology), Adrian Stanciu (2017, Psychology), Ge Yu (2017, Sociology)
BIGSSS, University of Bremen: Greta-Marleen Storath (2024, Sociology), Marlene Seiffarth (2023, Sociology), Michael Richter (2023, Political Science), Daria Ukhova (2021, Sociology), Yulia Khalikova (2021, Political Science), Alexander Meland (2021, Political Science), Ivan Bakalov (2020, International Relations), Anna Wolkenhauer (2020, Political Science), Silvana Lakeman (2020, Political Science), Diletta Luminari (2020, Sociology), Eva Johais (2019, Political Science), Lara Minkus (2019, Sociology), Lisa Heindl (2018, History), Sarah Permulla (2017, Political Science), Thomas Lux (2017, Sociology), Anne Baumann (2015, Sociology), Philipp Lersch (2012, Sociology)
Constructor University (formerly Jacobs University Bremen): Franziska Keller (2022, Psychology)
Academic Self-Governance
Chair: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EQ) Committee, Constructor University, Germany (since 2022)
Chair: Ethics Committee, Constructor University, Germany (since 2021)
Chair: Ethics Committee, BIGSSS, Germany (since 2020)
Faculty Representative: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EQ) Committee, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany (2016-2022)
Faculty Member: Ethics Committee, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany (2018-2021)
Hiring and Selection Committees
Hiring Committee (EQ Representative): Professorship for Computer Science with a Focus on Security, Constructor University, Germany (2023-2024)
Hiring Committee (EQ Representative): Professorship for Economics, Constructor University, Germany (2023)
Selection Committee: Global Dynamics of Social Policy and Social Cohesion PhD Program, BIGSSS, University of Bremen, Germany (2023)
Hiring Committee (EQ Representative): Professorship for Biotechnology, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany (2022)
Selection Committee: GloWel PhD Program, BIGSSS, University of Bremen, Germany (2022)
Hiring Committee: Academic Coordinator, BIGSSS, University of Bremen, Germany (2022)
Hiring Committee (EQ Representative): Professorship for Computer Science with a Focus on Automation, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany (2020-2022)
Hiring Committee (EQ Representative): Professorship for Global Economics and Management with a Focus on Finance, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany (2020-2021)
Selection Committee: Diversity Focus Area Scholarship, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany (2020)
Hiring Committee: Academic Coordinator, BIGSSS, University of Bremen, Germany (2017)
Hiring Committee: Postdoctoral Fellow to the Methods Center, BIGSSS, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany (2017)
Selection Committee: Best Paper Prize, BIGSSS, University of Bremen, Germany (2015)
Selection Committee: Field Three Doctoral Fellows, BIGSSS, University of Bremen, Germany (2011)
Further Service
Co-Speaker, Bremen-Oldenburg Regional Group of the German Society of Humboldtians (2022-present)
Methods Center Representative: BIGSSS Academic Council, University of Bremen and Constructor University (formerly Jacobs University Bremen), Germany (2016-present)
Invited Expert, Consultation Meeting on the 2016 Human Development Report, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Istanbul Regional Hub, Istanbul, Turkey (2016)
BIGSSS Delegation Member, DFG Hearing for Excellence Initiative Funding, Bonn, Germany (2012)
Research Advisory Committee, NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault, New York City, USA (2007-2008)
Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Public Health Students for Reproductive Freedom, Columbia University, New York City, USA (2003-2004)
Vice-President, Seattle Pacific University Chapter, Psi Chi National Honor Society, Seattle, USA (1998-1999)