Professional appointments
Since 10/2023
Lecturer in International Relations and Global Political Economy
University of Freiburg, Department of Political Science
Since 01/2020
Research Fellow
Stellenbosch University, Department of Political Science, Centre for International & Comparative Politics
10/2023 – 03/2024
Visiting Lecturer
TUD Dresden University of Technology, Institute of Political Science
04/2023 – 09/2023
Lecturer in International Relations and Global Political Economy
TUD Dresden University of Technology, Institute of Political Science
10/2021 – 09/2022
Lecturer in International Relations and Global Political Economy
University of Freiburg, Department of Political Science
07/2020 – 06/2021
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
University of Edinburgh, Centre of African Studies
ERC-funded project “African Governance and Space: Transport Corridors, Border Towns and Port Cities in Transition” (AFRIGOS)
Principal investigator: Prof. Paul Nugent
03/2020 – 01/2021
Adjunct Lecturer
University of St Andrews, School of International Relations
01/2015 – 12/2017
Research Associate
Stellenbosch University, Department of Political Science, Centre for International & Comparative Politics
Courses taught
Summer semester 2024
South-South cooperation then and now: Zooming in on Africa-China relations (advanced course)
University of Freiburg, Department of Political Science
Summer semester 2024
Global Political Economy
University of Freiburg, Department of Political Science
Winter semester 2023-24
Coloniality, capital, contestation: The political economy of the ‘Global South’
University of Freiburg, Department of Political Science
Winter semester 2023-24
Interdisciplinary approaches (MA course)
TUD Dresden University of Technology, Institute of Political Science
Summer semester 2023
Complex Actor Constellations and Horizontal Cooperation in the Transnational Realm (MA course)
TUD Dresden University of Technology, Institute of Political Science
Summer semester 2023
Theories of International Organisations (MA course)
TUD Dresden University of Technology, Institute of Political Science
Summer semester 2022
The International Relations of ‘Sub-Saharan Africa’ (advanced course)
University of Freiburg, Department of Political Science
Summer semester 2022
Foundations of International Relations and Global Politics (undergraduate course)
University of Freiburg, Department of Political Science
Winter semester 2021-22
Global Political Economy and the Global South (advanced course)
University of Freiburg, Department of Political Science
Winter semester 2021-22
Exercise course accompanying the lecture ‘Introduction to Political Science’
University of Freiburg, Department of Political Science
Academic years 2019-20, 2020-21
The International Relations of ‘Sub-Saharan Africa’ (senior honours, 4th year)
University of St Andrews, School of International Relations
Academic years 2014, 2015, 2016
Global Political Economy (senior honours, 4th year)
Stellenbosch University, Department of Political Science
Academic qualifications
2020
PhD in International Relations
University of St Andrews, School of International Relations
Title of dissertation: ‘The Chinese Infrastructural Fix in Africa: A Strategic-Relational Analysis of Zambia’s “Road Bonanza” and the Rehabilitation of TAZARA’
2013
Master of Arts in International Studies
Stellenbosch Univeristy
Thesis title: ‘Regionalism in theory and practice: The transformative potential of civil society in Southern Africa’
2010
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Law
University of Heidelberg
Awards and fellowships (selected)
2015-2020
PhD Scholarship
Friedrich Ebert Foundation
2015-2019
PhD Studenship
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Doctoral Fellowship
Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS)
2016
Mobility Award
St Andrews Russell Trust
2010-2012
Scholarship for graduate studies
Friedrich Ebert Foundation
2007-2010
Scholarship for undergraduate studies
Friedrich Ebert Foundation
Professional experience (selected)
2012-2015
Accredited Parliamentary Assistant to Evelyne Gebhardt, Member of the European Parliament and former Vice-President of the European Parliament
2008-2009
Assistant in the constituency office of Walter Riester, Member of the German Parliament and former Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
Civic engagement (selected)
Since 2021
Board member of the Germany-based not-for-profit organisation Freundeskreis Uganda e.V.
2007-2019
Co-founder and chairperson of the Germany-based not-for-profit organisation Freundeskreis Uganda e.V.
2007-2011
Press spokesperson, German Social Democratic Party in the county of Göppingen