Education
• University of Zurich: Licentiate in Psychology, Sociology and Social History, 1975
• University of Zurich: PhD in Sociology. Thesis: Therapy and coercion – participant observation in a correctional institution, 1982
• Habilitation, venia legendi for Sociology of Education. Thesis: Dyslexia – history of a pathologization, 1991
Professional Experience
• Professor of Sociology, special subject Sociology of the Family, Youth, and Education, Department of Educational and Social Sciences, University of Wuppertal, since 02/1994
• Senior lecturer, University of Zurich (Prof. Dr. H. Fend), 1982-1994
• Junior lecturer, University of Zurich, 1977-1982
• Research assistant, Swiss Institute for Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, 1975-1977
Honours and Awards
• René-König-Award, Best Textbook in Sociology, German Sociological Association, 2012
• Nomination “Eminent Scientist” by Mattei Dogan Foundation, 2010
• Best Teaching Award – 2005, University of Wuppertal
• Visiting scholar, University of California, San Francisco (Prof. Anselm Strauss), 1991
• Stiefel-Zangger-Foundation (PostDoc Grant), 1990
• Gertrud-Ruegg-Foundation for academic offspring (PhD Grant), 1981
• Erasmus Teacher Mobility Program (EU) with Université Paris V René Descartes – Sorbonne; Paris X, Paris-Nanterre; Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca; Universita Roma Tre, Rome ; American University of Central Asia, Bishkek.
Areas of Specialisation
• Childhood, social age as structural dimension, education and socialization, intergenerational relations, social inequality
Selected Research Grants and Projects
• Integration and upward mobility of young migrants, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), 2018-2021
• Self-processes and student careers, German Research Foundation (DFG), 2015-2018
• Self-orientation and self-reliant learning. An analysis of socialization and learning environment of primary school pupils, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), 2011-2014
• Professional intervention in cases of chid maltreatment, German Research Foundation (DFG), 2010-2013
• Empowering little children – little children’s lifeworlds and family practices in Kyrgyzstan, Aga Khan Foundation/Unicef Kg, 2009-2011
• University cooperation with three Bishkek Universities – “Growing-up in Kyrgyzstan”, DAAD, 2008-2012
• Young people between self-project and limited chances, German Research Foundation (DFG), 2008-2011
• Professional formation – conflicts and failures, EU/ESF, 2005-2006
• Marginality and voice – children in sociology and society, DFG, 2005
Professional Organizations and Services
Editorial Responsibilities and Reviewing
o Childhood (Guest Editor and Reviewer), Diskurs Kindheits- und Jugendforschung (Editorial Board); Current Sociology (Reviewer); Swiss Journal for Educational Sciences (Scientific Committee); Book Series “Childhood between Risk and Chances” (Responsible Editor); Sociological Studies of Children and Youth (SSCY) (Editorial Board Member); Child Indicators Research (Frequent Reviewer); Journal of Family Research (Reviewer) etc.
Responsibilities in Scientific Organizations
o President RC 53 “Sociology of Childhood”, International Sociological Association, 2006-2010; Past President RC 53 “Sociology of Childhood”, International Sociological Association since 2010
o Member of ISA Research Council, 2006-2010
o Coordinator Section “Sociology of Childhood”, German Sociological Association (GSA), 2002 -2012
o Officer-at-large RC 53 “Sociology of Childhood”, International Sociological Association (ISA), 2002-2006
Reviews for Granting Agencies (among others)
o European Science Foundation
o German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG)
o German Academic Exchange Service
o Swiss National Science Foundation
