Members
The Institute of African Studies (IAS) unites outstanding scholars from different faculties of the University of Bayreuth. We currently have almost 100 members from six of the university's seven faculties. This diversity underlines the broad positioning of the IAS as well as the comprehensive research focus that is made possible through interdisciplinary co-operation. These collaborations create a unique research environment that offers innovative and holistic perspectives on African Studies.
Membership is open to all members of the University of Bayreuth who work or conduct research in relevant areas.
To apply for a membership, please send a cover letter (including thematic focus) and a CV to ias@uni-bayreuth.de. The application will then be reviewed by the Institute's Steering Committee. For the committee meeting dates see here.
Further information on membership and the benefits of IAS membership is available on request.
Faculty II: Biology, Chemistry & Earth Sciences
PD Dr. Festus Boamah
Social and Population Geography
Prof. Dr. Martin Doevenspeck
Political Geography
Dr. Claudia Gebauer
afriZert
Dr. Nina Rholan Hounguè
Climatology
Prof. Dr. Lisa Hülsmann
Ecosystem Analysis & Simulation
Prof. Dr. Beate Lohnert
Geographical Development Research on Africa
PD Dr. Frank Meyer
Cultural Geography
Prof. Dr. Stefan Ouma
Economic Geography
Prof. Dr. Eberhard Rothfuß
Social and Population Geography
Prof. Dr. Cyrus Samimi
Climatology
Prof. Dr. Gabriele Schrüfer
Geography EducationRetired members
- Prof. Dr. em. Erwin BeckPlant Physiology
- PD Dr. Andreas HempPlant Systematics
Faculty III: Law, Business & Economics
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Herz
Economics I – Money and International Economics
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Eva Jakob
Social Entrepreneurship
Prof. Dr. Thoko Kaime
African Legal Studies
Prof. Dr. Michael Lauerer
Medical Management and Health Sciences
Prof. Dr. med. Wilm Quentin
Planetary & Public HealthRetired members
- Prof. Dr. Ulrike WanitzekPrivate Law, Comparative Law and Sociology of Law – Law in Africa
Faculty IV: Languages & Literatures
PD Dr. Eric Anchimbe
English Linguistics
Prof. Dr. Susan Arndt
English Literature (Transcultural Anglophone Studies)
Prof. Dr. Markus Bieswanger
English Linguistics II
PD Dr. Klaudia Dombrowsky-Hahn
African Linguistics
Dr. Mario Faust-Scalisi
Intersectionality Studies
Dr. Claudia Favarato
African and Afrophone Philosophies
Prof. Dr. Ute Fendler
Romance Literary Studies and Comparative Literature
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Andrew Harvey
African Languages & The Construction of Knowledge
Prof. Dr. Natasha A. Kelly
Global African Arts; Academic and Artistic Director of Iwalewahaus
Prof. Dr. Florian Klaeger
English Literature
Dr. Franz Kogelmann
Islamic Studies
PD Dr. Georg Leube
Islamic Studies
Dr. Doris Löhr
African Linguistics
Dr. Christine Matzke
English Literature
Prof. Dr. Susanne Mühleisen
English Linguistics I
Prof. Dr. Gilbert Shang Ndi
Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies (Africa/Latin America)
PD Dr. Mariam Popal
General and Comparative Literature
Prof. Dr. Alena Rettová
African and Afrophone Philosophies
Prof. Dr. Ivo Ritzer
Comparative Media Studies: General, Comparative and Africa-related Media Theory
Dr. Christine Scherer
Social and Cultural Anthropology
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Seesemann
Islamic Studies with a focus on Africa
Prof. Dr. Gabriele Sommer
African Linguistics I
Prof. Dr. Clarissa Vierke
Literatures in African LanguagesRetired members
- Prof. Dr. Martina DrescherRomance and General Linguistics
- Prof. Dr. Dymitr IbriszimowAfrican Linguistics II
- Prof. Dr. Gudrun MieheAfrican Linguistics I
- Prof. Dr. Rainer OßwaldIslamic Studies with a focus on Africa
- Prof. Dr. Manfred von RoncadorAfrican Linguistics I
Faculty V: Humanities & Social Sciences
Prof. Dr. Erdmute Alber
Social Anthropology
Dr. Asaf Augusto
Religious Studies
Prof. Dr. Sandra Calkins
Social and Cultural Anthropology with a focus on Africa
Prof. Dr. Serawit B. Debele
Gender, Sexuality and Religion with a focus on Africa
Dr. Magnus Echtler
Religious Studies
Prof. Dr. Joël Glasman
African History
Prof. Dr. Jana Hönke
Sociology of Africa
PD Dr. Thomas Hüsken
Social and Cultural Anthropology
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Melina C. Kalfelis
Social and Cultural Anthropology with a focus on Social Belonging
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Benjamin Kirby
Religious Studies with a focus on Global Entanglements
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Jia Hui Lee
Science & Technology Studies of the Global South
Dr. Cassandra Mark-Thiesen
African History
PD Dr. Tilman Musch
Social and Cultural Anthropology
Prof. Dr. Joschka Philipps
Sociology
Dr. Tabea Scharrer
Social Anthropology
Prof. Dr. Katharina Schramm
Social and Cultural Anthropology
Dr. Phoebe Shambaugh
African History
Prof. Dr. Eva Spies
Religious Studies with a focus on Africa
Dr. Florian Stoll
Sociology of Africa
Prof. Dr. Alexander Stroh-Steckelberg
Political Science: African Politics & Development Policy
Dr. Biruk Terrefe
Sociology of AfricaRetired members
- Prof. Dr. em. Kurt BeckSocial and Cultural Anthropology
- Prof. Dr. Dieter NeubertSociology of Development
- Prof. Dr. em. Gerd SpittlerSocial and Cultural Anthropology
Faculty VI: Engineering Science
Prof. Dr. Christoph Helbig
Ecological Resource TechnologyFaculty VII: Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition & Health
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Tina Bartelmeß
Food Sociology
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Tim Dorlach
Global Food and Health Policy
Dr. Tilman Reinhardt
Food LawIwalewahaus
Prof. Dr. Natasha A. Kelly
Global African Arts; Academic and Artistic Director