As Behavioral Economist, Data Scientist and certified facilitator of the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method, I combine my passion for human decision-making under uncertainty and communication processes with my fascination for playful methods in research and teaching.
Throughout my academic journey, I underwent comprehensive training in Media Science, Psychology, and Philosophy culminating in the attainment of my Magistra Artium degree in 2011 from the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena. Recognized for my academic achievements, I was awarded a student scholarship by the Foundation of German Business (Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft, sdw). Enriching my educational experience, I embarked on a semester abroad at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.
Following my studies, I held positions as a Management Assistant to the Commercial Management (Executive Board) and as a Management Trainee at the Mediengruppe Thüringen. In these roles, I spearheaded various initiatives, including conducting market research, fostering personal, organizational, and leadership development within the publishing house, and assuming the role of project manager for the Thuringian student newspaper ‘Lemma’. Additionally, I played a pivotal role in overseeing internal corporate communication strategies.
In 2021, I earned my PhD (Dr. rer. pol.) in Economics with summa cum laude from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the International Max Planck Research School on Adapting Behavior in a Fundamentally Uncertain World (‘IMPRS Uncertainty’) in 2021. During my PhD, I undertook a research stay in 2017 at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. My interdisciplinary PhD thesis, which combined insights from Psychology and Economics, received acclaim and was bestowed with the Dissertation Award by the Alumni Jeneses e.V.
As a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Intercultural Studies and Business Communications, I broadened my research scope to encompass resilience, complex problem-solving, and intercultural teamwork. Launching the ‘Jena Intercultural Lab,’ I utilized video recording methodologies to examine team dynamics. Additionally, I successfully secured external funding grants to support various projects, such as the development of an innovative teaching module that incorporated classroom experiments and utilized the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) method. Moreover, I enhanced my teaching capabilities through supervising student theses and furthering my pedagogical expertise.
Since 2024, I have been serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Communication Science (IfKW) at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. In this role, I leverage data science methodologies, particularly natural language processing, to investigate the intricate dynamics of political and digital communication processes. Additionally, I am actively engaged in teaching responsibilities, imparting knowledge and fostering critical thinking among students. Through these endeavors, I aim to contribute significantly to our understanding of contemporary communication phenomena and advance scholarly discourse in the field.
In addition to my extensive scientific and professional background, I actively contribute to various organizations on a voluntary basis. Presently, I acquire external funding for the Psycho-Chor of FSU Jena, I serve as a Data Scientist at CorrelAid, and I contribute to the Foundation of German Business by participating in the selection interviews for new scholarship recipients, drawing upon my experience to identify and support promising candidates. Previously, I served as the Liaison Alumna for the Foundation of German Business, leveraging my expertise in human resource management to enhance the quality management of the national selection process. I also provide guidance to regional selection committees and facilitate the selection interviews. Until April 2021, I held the position of the elected PhD Representative on the Board of the Graduate Academy at Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, advocating for the needs and interests of fellow doctoral candidates. Furthermore, I contributed as Editor-in-Chief of the Thuringian student newspaper ‘Lemma’ and co-founded the ‘Network for Youth Environmental Education Thuringia’ (Netzwerk für JugendUmweltBildung Thüringen ‘JUBiTh’), demonstrating my commitment to fostering community engagement and environmental education initiatives.
Furthermore, my keen interest in entrepreneurship spans various dimensions since more than 15 years. I am honored to have clinched the title of winner at the Young Entrepreneurs in Science Pitch Competition Jena 2018, an event organized by the Falling Walls Foundation. In 2022, I actively contributed to the ‘Transfer’ working group, collaborating on the development of a sustainability strategy for Friedrich Schiller University Jena. Additionally, as alumna of the Foundation of German Business, I possess a rich network comprising innovative companies, startups, researchers, and institutions within the entrepreneurship and innovation landscape. Moreover, since 2023, I have been working as freelancer myself, offering workshops and training sessions as a certified facilitator of the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method.
Last – but not least – I am a passionate sketchnoter and musician, proficient in playing the piano, guitar, and singing. I also lend my voice to the Psycho-Chor of FSU Jena, an ensemble that achieved recognition as the second-best pop choir in Germany in June 2023.