Biography
Professional appointments and positions
2026
Acting Professor (W2 professorship), Chair of Political Science, University of Vechta.
2025
Senior Researcher in the Challenges for Democracy in Times of Regression (DemoReg) research cluster, Technical University of Darmstadt, in cooperation with Goethe University Frankfurt and University of Marburg. Funded by the State of Hesse.
2024-2025
Visiting Professor (W3 professorship) and Deputy Chair of the Institute for Social Transformation and Sustainability (IGN), Vienna University of Economics and Business.
2023-2024
Senior Fellow, Point Alpha Research Institute, Geisa.
2022 - 2023
Co-PI, Moralization, Emotionalization, Polarization citizen science project. Funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.
Senior Researcher, Kopernikus-Projekt ARIADNE and Institute for Political Science, Technical University of Darmstadt.
2021 - 2022
Co-PI, True Hatred: Emotional Discipline and Political Learning research project. Funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.
2021
Venia legendi in Political Science. Senior lecturer (Privatdozent) at Technical University of Darmstadt.
Acting Professor (W3 professorship), Chair of Political Science, Heidelberg University of Education.
2017-2018
Acting Professor (W2 professorship), Chair of Political Theory and the History of Political Ideas, University of Trier.
2014 - 2020
Lecturer, Institute of Political Science, Technical University of Darmstadt.
2013 - 2014
Fellowship, Institute of Political Science, University of Hamburg.
2013
Doctorate in Political Science, University of Hamburg.
2011 - 2012
Fellowship, Institute of Political Science, University of Hamburg.
2008 - 2011
Research Associate and Lecturer, Institute of Political Science, University of Hamburg.
2008 - 2009
Research Assistant, Institute of Political Science, Helmut-Schmidt-University of the Armed Forces, Hamburg.
2001 - 2008
Studies in Political Science, Sociology, and Philosophy, University of Hamburg. Magister Artium. Distinction.
Commitment and memberships in professional associations
- German Association for Political Science (DVPW)
- German Society for Political Science (DGfP)
- Co-Speaker DVPW Populism Research Group
- European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR)
- External Editiorial Board at Soziopolis
Academic service (selection)
European Journal of Political Theory, Democratic Theory, Constellations, Social Movement Studies, Global Constitutionalism, Philosophy and Social Criticism, Energy Research & Social Science, Journal of International Relations and Development, Leviathan, Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft, Zeitschrift für Politische Theorie, Momentum Quarterly, Transportation Research, Politische Vierteljahresschrift, Exzellenzinitiative der Universität Tübingen, Futures, Social Theory and Practice, New Political Science, Fritz Thyssen Foundation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/German Research Foundation (DFG), Österreichischer Wissenschaftsfonds/Austrian Research Fund (FWF), Polity Press.
Research projects
2022 - 2023
Science transfer project "Moralization, Emotionalization, Polarization. A civic science real laboratory for experts of everyday life". Funded by VolkswagenStiftung. [With Olaf Jann].
2021-2022
True hate. Disciplining Emotions and Political Learning. Funded by VolkswagenStiftung. [With Olaf Jann].
Research stays / teaching stays
2019
Tongji University of Shanghai (2-4/2019, Guest lecturer and researcher).
University of Stirling, Schottland (2/2019, ERASMUS+ Guest lecturer).
2019
University of Stirling, Scotland (2/2019, ERASMUS+).
2018
University of Ottawa, Kanada (10/2018, Guestresearcher).
2016
Tongji University of Shanghai (2-4/2016, Guest researcher and lecturer).
Scholarships
2024
Nietzsche-Fellowship, Klassik Stiftung Weimar (not accepted)
2023
Senior Research Fellowship, Point Alpha Research Institut Geisa
2013
Post-doc scholarship, Heisenberg Chair Europa and Modernity, University of Hamburg
2011
PhD scholarship, University of Hamburg
Third mission (selection)
Media appearances: New York Times, Scobel, Die Zeit, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Die Neuen Zwanziger, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF), Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Neues Deutschland (ND), TAZ, SWR Kultur.
Public speaking beyond academia: Chaos Communication Congress, Salzburger Festspiele, Demokratiekonferenz Aargau, StreitClub Frankfurt am Main, Bundeskongress Politische Bildung, Bruno Kreisky Forum, Ars Electronica Festival, republica Berlin, Innocracy 25 Berlin.
Grants and fellowships
2024
Nietzsche Fellowship, Klassik-Stiftung Weimar, €3,000 (not accepted).
2024
Thyssen Foundation, research grant, €13,000.
2023
Senior Fellowship, Point Alpha Research Institute Geisa, €48,000.
2023
Volkswagen Foundation, research grant, €42,000.
2022
Ingenium, research and teaching grants, €6,500.
2022
Volkswagen Foundation, research grant, €110,300.
2021
Volkswagen Foundation, research grant, €115,000.
2019
ERASMUS+, teaching grant, €1,200.
2013
Postdoctoral fellowship, University of Hamburg, €12,000.
2011
PhD fellowship, University of Hamburg, €10,000.
Shortlists
2024-2025
Shortlisted, Chairs of Political Theory, University of Freiburg (W3), University of Greifswald (W3), University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (W2).
2023-2025
Second top position, Chairs of Political Theory, University of Regensburg (W3) and University of Halle-Wittenberg (W2).
Teaching experience
Over 60 courses taught at universities in Berlin, Darmstadt, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Oldenburg, Shanghai, Stirling, Trier, Vechta, and Vienna.