Georg Wenzelburger has studied political science, communication science and economics at the Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität in Munich. In 2009, he received his Ph.D. from Heidelberg University with a thesis on fiscal adjustments in Western industrialized countries. After having worked as a Post-Doc at the University of Freiburg, he joined the political science department at the University of Kaiserslautern in 2014 as an Assistant Professor (Juniorprofessor) and was named full professor in October 2017.
Georg’s research interests are centered on questions of comparative public policy analysis and political economy with a certain emphasis on the welfare state and welfare state reforms, law and order policies and fiscal policies. Methodologically, Georg uses qualitative and quantitative methods (or the mix of both) depending on the research question at hand. Results of his research have been published in major peer-reviewed international journals, such as the British Journal of Political Science, the European Journal of Political Research, the Journal of European Public Policy or West European Politics (for a full list, see here).
Building 57 / Room 475 – georg.wenzelburger@sowi.uni-kl.de – +49 631 205 3840
Researchgate profile
Hakan Akbulut studied Political Science at the University of Vienna (in combination with English and American Studies). He obtained his Ph.D. from the same University in 2016. In his respective thesis titled “Turkey and the Atom against the Background of Domestic Change and International Uncertainties”, he explored the prospects for a weaponization of Turkey’s nuclear program. Before joining TUK’s Political Science Department in October 2018, he worked with the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip) and the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP). He also acted as a lecturer with the University of Vienna. His research and teaching at TUK focuses on Turkish foreign and security policies as well as on nuclear arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation.
Building 57 / Room 484 – hakan.akbulut@sowi.uni-kl.de – +49 (0)631-205-2728
Beatriz Carbone has been research associate at the Chair for Policy Analysis and Political Economy (Prof. Dr. Georg Wenzelburger) at TU Kaiserslautern since April 2022.
She studied international relations and obtained a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Campinas (Brazil). Dr. des. Carbone finished her PhD in Political Science at University of Frankfurt in 2021. In her dissertation, she analyzed the influence of racialized and gendered nationalism in the public’s response to the welfare Program ‘Bolsa Família’ in Brazil. From 2018 to 2021, she was research associate at the Chair for Iberian Romance Studies at Augsburg University, where she managed the interdisciplinary and international project and research network Urban Cultures. In 2018, she was lecturer at the Centre for Gender Studies and Feminist Future Research Centre for Conflict Studies of Philipps-Marburg University.
Her research interests are focused on right-wing populism, feminist political theory, Latin American politics, and postcolonial studies.
Building 57 / Room 474 – beatriz.carbone@sowi.uni-kl.de
Katja Demler has studied Social Sciences and Chemistry at the University of Kaiserslautern where she attained her degrees of an Bachelor and Master of Education. Her master thesis focused on the issue competition strategies of political parties during the German 2021 Federal Election with regard to the Corona pandemic.
She joined Georg Wenzelburger’s team at the University of Kaiserslautern in October 2021, where she is working on the development of a new master’s program in political science in cooperation with the University of Landau.
Her research interests cover the field of political communication, policy strategies and party competition.
Building 57 / Room 478 – katja.demler@sowi.uni-kl.de
Researchgate profile
Kathrin Hartmann has studied social sciences at the University of Oldenburg, where she attained her degree of an Bachelor of Arts.
She continued her studies at the University of Kaiserslautern, where she was enrolled in the Master program “Integrated Social Sciences” with a focus on politics, economy, and ethics. Kathrin received her degree of an Master of Arts in 2019. Her master thesis focused on the determining factors that lead to the election of the rightwing populist party (AfD) in Germany.
Afterwards, Kathrin started her employment in the research project FairAndGoodADM. For more information about the research project, click here.
Building 57 / Room 478 – kathrin.hartmann@sowi.uni-kl.de
Researchgate profile
Pascal König studied political science at the University of Mannheim and at the University of Freiburg, where he also received his Ph.D. for a thesis entitled “Communicating reforms in times of crisis”. He worked as a visiting lecturer at the University of Applied Science, Ludwigshafen on the Rhine, and as a research associate at the Institute of Political Science, Chair of Political Sciences with a Focus on Qualitative Empirical Social Research (Prof. Dr. Claudius Wagemann), Goethe University Frankfurt.
His research interests cover the fields of Political Communication, policy strategies, party competition, and digital change.
pascal.koenig@sowi.uni-kl.de
Personal website
Researchgate profile
Philipp Mai studied Political Science and attained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at the University of Heidelberg.
He worked as a lecturer at the Institute of Political Science, University of Heidelberg, before he joined Georg Wenzelburger’s team at the University of Kaiserslautern in October 2020.
His research interests include legislative studies, German politics and party competition.
Building 57 / Room 486 – philipp.mai@sowi.uni-kl.de – +49 (0)631-205-4970
Researchgate profile
Denise Scharwatz is a social scientist and received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Kaiserslautern. In the Master’s program “Integrated Social Sciences” she focused on politics, economy and ethics.
Moreover, Denise is a pediatric nurse. In addition to her research assistant position at the TUK, she is working as a teacher in nursing education.
Building 57 / Room 478 – denise.scharwatz@sowi.uni-kl.de
Researchgate profile
Stefanie Thurm has studied social sciences with a focus on political science in Trier and in Kaiserslautern where she received her Master’s degree.
In 2021, she started working as a research assistant in the project “Linking Borderlands”.
Building 57 / Room 474 – stefanie.thurm@sowi.uni-kl.de
Researchgate profile
Andreas Au studied the management of cultural and non-profit organizations at the University of Kaiserslautern and graduated with a master’s degree. As part of his master’s thesis he dealt with the economic tendencies of organizations in the third sector. The degree took place while Andreas worked as a personal advisor to the Mayor of Mainz, thus building on a close link between theory and practice.
Mr. Au is currently on leave from his employer, the state capital of Mainz, for the preparation of a doctorate. The work is supervised by Professor Wenzelburger.
andreas.au@sowi.uni-kl.de
Alexander von Kulessa received degrees from the University of Oxford (MSc in Social Policy), the University Freiburg, and the Institut d’Etudes Politiques d’Aix-en-Provence, France. After his time in the UK, he worked for two years in an international Consulting and Audit firm in Paris. Since September 2017, he is working as project manager in the Real Estate sector. In addition, he will write a PhD as part of the research project on the “politics of housing policy”, funded by the Fritz Thyssen Stiftung.
His initial research focus was corporate tax competition. Alexander von Kulessa co-authored, together with Prof. Dr. Wenzelburger, an article on the politics of corporate taxation, which was awarded the “Fritz-Thyssen-Preis” (second position). The article was first published in German in the Swiss Political Science Review (2015) and was selected to be published in English in the World Political Science (2016).
Alexander’s research focus shifted towards housing over his MSc in Social Policy. The research carried out during this time led to a thesis studying the effects of homeownership on preferences over redistribution across 27 democracies using data from the International Social Survey and multi-level regression models.
alexander.vonkulessa@sowi.uni-kl.de
Malin Grüninger is studying “Integrated Social Sciences” at the University of Kaiserslautern with a focus on politics.
Building 57 / Room 476 – grueninger@sowi.uni-kl.de
Louisa Prien holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences with a focus on Sociology/Methods of Empirical Social Research. She is currently enrolled in the Master program “Integrated Social Sciences” at University of Kaiserslautern, majoring in politics, economy and ethics.
Building 57 / Room 476 – louisa.prien@sowi.uni-kl.de
Marie Both is studying social sciences and biology to become a teacher.
She joined Professor Wenzelburger’s Team Policy Analysis and Political Economy in October 2021, where she is working as a tutor for the introductory tutorial called „Introduction to Political Science“.
Building 57 / Room 476 – Marie.Both@sowi.uni-kl.de
Daniel Conrad is studying biology and social studies to become a high school teacher. In 2020, he attained a Bachelor of Education degree and is currently dedicated to attain his Master’s degree. He joined Professor Wenzelburger’s Team Policy Analysis and Political Economy in October 2021. At the moment, he is a tutor for the introductory tutorial called „Introduction to Political Science“.
Building 57 / Room 476 – daniel.conrad@sowi.uni-kl.de
Hanna-Lea Hackländer is studying ‘Integrated Social Sciences’ at the University of Kaiserslautern and specializing in political science. Her dream is to work in the mentioned field in the future.
Building 57 / Room 476 – hanna.hacklaender@sowi.uni-kl.de
Marie-Louise Hauch is studying in the Bachelor’s program “Integrated Social Sciences” with the specialization in politics at the University of Kaiserslautern.
Building 57 / Room 476 – Marie-Louise.Hauch@sowi.uni-kl.de
Julia Lange is currently studying “Integrated Social Sciences” at the University of Kaiserslautern, specializing in political science.
Building 57 / Room 476 – julia.lange@sowi.uni-kl.de
Morizz Müller is currently studying to become a high school teacher in social studies and sports at the University of Kaiserslautern. He joined Professor Wenzelburger’s Team Policy Analysis and Political Economy in October 2021, where he is working as a tutor for the introductory tutorial called „Introduction to Political Science“. In this tutorial, he wants to get his students excited about political science and help them get off to a good start in their studies.
Building 57 / Room 476 – morizz.mueller@sowi.uni-kl.de
Meike Neußer is studying to become a teacher in biology and social studies at the University of Kaiserslautern. Her goal in her future work as a teacher is to introduce young people to politics and get them excited about it.
Building 57 / Room 476 – meike.neusser@sowi.uni-kl.de
Former Colleagues:
Helge Staff holds a Masters Degree in International Relations from the University of Bremen and Jacobs University. After writing his Masters Thesis about private security governance, he shifted his research interests from International Relations to Policy Analysis. His dissertation deals with “The Political Economy of Private Security”, analyzing the effect of political-institutional factors on private security growth and regulation. Helge was part of the DFG-project “The Politics of Law and Order” and continues research on domestic security and penal policy.
Helge’s research interests focus on policy analysis with a special emphasis placed on (domestic) security policy and private security services. Drawing on a range of theories and qualitative as well as quantitative methods, his research has been published in peer-reviewed international journals, such as Policy Studies, the European Journal of Political Research, or Politics & Policy (for a full list, see here).
helge.staff@lcss.uni-hannover.de
Colette Vogeler joined the team as a visiting professor to substitute for Georg Wenzelburger during the winter term 2018/2019. She has studied information science and political science as well as Mandarin in Regensburg and Shanghai. After working for Volkswagen she received her Ph.D. from the TU Braunschweig in 2015 and joined the team of Prof. Nils Bandelow. At his Chair of Comparative Politics and Public Policy she currently works as a research associate.
Her main research interests focus on Policy Analysis and Political Economy. Current core areas of her research are economic and agricultural policy with a special focus on animal welfare and livestock policy. In addition, she coordinates jointly with the TU Braunschweig’s Institute for Geoecology the interdisciplinary research project “AgroEcoSOS” as well as the project “Escalation Research on the Communication of Large Infrastructure and Construction Projecs” – in cooperation with the Universities of Braunschweig, Göttingen, and Hannover. Her research has been published in major peer-reviewed international journals, such as the Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, the Review of Policy Research, and the Journal of Common Market Studies (for a full list, click here.)
colette.vogeler@sowi.uni-kl.de – +49 531 391 8906
Daniel Meyer
Fabienne Müller
Kira Wolf
Nora Fritz