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 pathologisation, 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 Programme (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 socialisation, 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 socialisation 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 Organisations 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 Organisations
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
