Research

Comparative Public Policy
Comparative social policy research (especially family policy and gender equality, social rights and inclusiveness, pension policy)
Policy processes and policy design
Narratives in policy research
Policy change and policy learning
Politics and gender
Evidence and policy
Qualitative research methods, including qualitative content analysis and process tracing

"Climate, Inequality, and Democratic Action: The Force of Political Emotions" (CIDAPE), Horizon Europe, Principal Investigator (2024-2027)
"Experts and Policy-Making in the COVID-19 Crisis: Argumentative Couplings in Containment and Vaccination Policies (EXPAC), KU Leuven C1 Project (2022-2026)
Parental Leave Policies and Social Sustainability (Sustainability@Leave), COST Action 21150 (2022-2026)
"Work-Family Policies: Socioeconomic Outcomes and Policy Learning", Subproject A06, SFB 1342 Global Dynamics of Social Policy, Principal Investigator (with Keonhi Son, MZES; 2026-2029)

Maria Paulina Arnal, Bielefeld University, Topic: ‘Who Gets to Know? Work-Family Policy Learning and Policy Inclusiveness’
Nicolas Barden (first supervisor: J Berten), Bielefeld University, Topic: ‘Reform Proposals and Transformation of Germany’s Social Security System in Light of the Ecological Crisis – Power and Ideas in Eco-Social Policy’ (since 2024)
Anna Karmann (first supervisor: M Kroh), Bielefeld University, Topic: ‘Paradoxical Effects of Family Policies: Reconsidering the Role of Welfare States in Gender and Class Inequalities’
Nora Habelitz, Bielefeld University, Working Title: ‘Narrating the Energy Transition in Germany and Italy: Emotions in Policy Narratives’ (since 2024)
Sören Becker, Bielefeld University, Topic: ‘Regulation of legal drugs – a comparison of German tobacco and alcohol control policies’ (since 2022; scholarship from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation)
Clemence Bouchat (first supervisor: M Brans), KU Leuven, Topic: ‘When do expert arguments survive in the policy process?’ (since 2022)

Dr. Josefine Nyby (First supervisor: M Nygard), Abo Akademi University (Finland); Topic: 'Politicising Finnish family policy reform 2007-2017' (2015-2020); Senior Lecturer, University of Stockholm