Short biography

Work Experience

Since April 2025: Research Assistant (Postdoc) in the Theories and Methods of Social Pedagogy department under Prof. Dr. Sigrid James, Institute of Social Work, University of Kassel

April 2017–October 2024: Research Assistant and Ph.D. candidate in the Theories and Methods of Social Pedagogy department under Prof. Dr. Sigrid James, Institute for Social Work, University of Kassel

August 2023–October 2024: Project Coordinator for an externally funded project on the follow-up study “Social Economy Integrated”: Qualitative follow-up interviews, updated data monitoring, and scoping review. University of Kassel; funded by the City of Kassel

09/2022–08/2023: Project coordinator in the externally funded project “Coaching Handbook.” University of Kassel; funded by the Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration and the City of Kassel

09/2017–11/2018: Project staff member in the externally funded project“An Evaluation Project—Fit for Training.” University of Kassel; funded by the Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration and the City of Kassel. (25%) Project duration: July 1, 2017–December 31, 2018 (extended at no cost until July 31, 2019).

09/2015–04/2017: Social worker at various residential facilities for unaccompanied refugee children and adolescents (ages 14–21). Malmö City, Sweden

June 2015–September 2015: Social worker (summer substitute) at various residential reception centers for unaccompanied refugee children and adolescents (ages 14–21). Trelleborg Municipality, Sweden

10/2013–10/2015: Educational staff member (part-time) at the “Daggmasken” parent-run daycare center. Malmö, Sweden

09/2012–08/2014: Student aide and administrative assistant at the Graduate School, Faculty of Social Sciences. Lund University, Sweden

Academic Background:

08/2018–01/2025: Ph.D. (Dr. phil.) in Social Work, University of Kassel, Department of Human Sciences 

Supervised by Prof. Dr. Sigrid James (Kassel University) and Prof. Dr. habil. Caroline Schmitt (Frankfurt UAS)

Thesis Title: “Out of Sight (Not) Out of Mind”—A Qualitative Study on the Transnational Family Lives of Displaced Unaccompanied Minors and Social Work Perspectives in Germany. Available at: https://doi.org/10.17170/kobra-2025051411144

Jan. 2015–Sept. 2017: M.A. in Communication for Development (50% distance learning) (60 credits); Faculty of Culture and Society, School of Arts and Communication, Malmö University, Sweden

08/2012–08/2014: M.A. in International Migration and Ethnic Relations (60 credits); Faculty of Culture and Society, Department of Global Political Studies. Malmö University, Sweden

August 2011–August 2013: M.Sc. in Global Studies (specialization in Social Work) (120 credits); Graduate School, Faculty of Social Sciences. Lund University, Sweden

09/2007–06/2011: B.A. in Social Work (with a focus on Cultural Studies). State certification as a social educator. Munich University of Applied Sciences. 

During this time: Erasmus exchange semester at Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden (2011) and exchange semester at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico (2009)