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 all 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

Dr. Festus Boamah
Social and Population Geography
Prof. Dr. Martin Doevenspeck
Political Geography
PD Dr. Andreas Hemp
Plant Systematics
Prof. Dr. Lisa Hülsmann
Ecosystem Analysis & Stimulation
Prof. Dr. Beate Lohnert
Geographical Development Research
PD Dr. Frank Meyer
Cultural Geography
Prof. Dr. Stefan Ouma
Chair of Economic Geography
Dr. Nina Rholan Hounguè
Research Group of Climatology
Prof. Dr. Eberhard Rothfuß
Social & Population Geography
Prof. Dr. Cyrus Samimi
Climatology
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Herz
Economics I
Prof. Dr. Gabriele Schrüfer
Pedagogy of GeographyFaculty III: Law, Business & Economics

Prof. Dr. Thoko Kaime
African Legal Studies
Prof. Dr. Dr. Eckhard Nagel
Health Care Management and Health Sciences
Prof. Dr. med. Wilm Quentin
Planetary & Public Health
Dr. Tilman Reinhardt
Food Law
Prof. Dr. Eva Jakob
Social EntrepreneurshipFaculty IV: Languages & Literatures
Dr. Eric Anchimbe
English Linguistics I
Prof. Dr. Susan Arndt
English and Anglophone Literature
Prof. Dr. Markus Bieswanger
English Linguistics II
Dr. Claudia Gebauer
AfriZertDr. Klaudia Dombrowsky-Hahn
African Linguistics IDr. Mario Faust-Scalisi
Language and Literature
Dr. Claudia Favarato
African and Afrophone Philosophy
Prof. Dr. Ute Fendler
Romance Literatures and Comparatistics
Prof. Dr. Andrew Harvey
African Languages
Prof. Dr. Natasha Kelly
Global African Arts and Academic Director of Iwalewahaus
Prof. Dr. Florian Klaeger
English Literature
Dr. Franz Kogelmann
Cluster of Excellence Africa MultipleDr. Georg Leube
Islamic StudiesDr. Doris Löhr
Cluster of Excellence Africa MultipleDr. Christine Matzke
English Literature
Prof. Dr. Susanne Mühleisen
English Linguistics I
PD Dr. Mariam Popal
Romanistics
Prof. Dr. Alena Rettová
Language and Literature Studies
Prof. Dr. Ivo Ritzer
Media Studies
Dr. Christine Scherer
Cluster of Excellence Africa Multiple
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Seesemann
Cluster of Excellence Africa Multiple
Prof. Dr. Gilbert Shang
Romanic Literature Studies and Comparatistics
Prof. Dr. Gabriele Sommer
African Linguistics I
Prof. Dr. Clarissa Vierke
African Language Literatures
Dr. Xenia Ressos
IwalewahausFaculty V: Humanities & Social Sciences

Prof. Dr. Erdmute Alber
Social Anthropology
Dr. Asaf Augusto
Religious StudiesProf. Dr. Serawit Debele
Cluster of Excellence Africa Multiple
Dr. Magnus Echtler
Religious Studies
Prof. Dr. Joël Glasman
Chair of African History
Prof. Dr. Jana Hönke
Chair of Sociology of Africa
Dr. Thomas Hüsken
Ethnology Studies
Prof. Dr. Melina C. Kalfelis
Cultural and Social Anthropology
Prof. Dr. Benjamin Kirby
Religious Studies
Prof. Dr. Jia Hui Lee
Science & Technology Studies of the Global South
Dr. Cassandra Mark-Thiesen
Cluster of Excellence Africa MultiplePD Dr. Tilman Musch
Ethnology Studies
Dr. Bakheit Mohammed Nur
Cluster of Excellence Africa Multiple
Prof. Dr. Joschka Philipps
Cluster of Excellence Africa Multiple
Dr. Tabea Scharrer
Social Anthropology
Prof. Dr. Katharina Schramm
Ethnology Studies
Prof. Dr. Eva Spies
Religious Studies
Dr. Florian Stoll
ReCentGlobe
Prof. Dr. Alexander Stroh-Steckelberg
Politics in Africa and Development Politics
Dr. Biruk Terrefe
Chair of Sociology of Africa
Prof. Dr. Sandra Calkins
Social and Cultural anthropology with Focus on Africa
Dr. Phoebe Shambaugh
African HistoryFaculty VI: Faculty of Engineering

Prof. Dr. Ing. Christoph Helbig
Ecological Resource TechnologyFaculty VII: Faculty of Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition & Health

Prof. Dr. Tina Bartelmeß
Food Sociology
Prof. Dr. Tim Dorlach
Global Food PoliticsFormer IAS-Members
We acknowledge the valued contributions of our former members and fellows.
- PD Dr. Gregor Aas
- Prof. Dr. Erwin Beck
- Prof. Dr. Ulrike Wanitzek
- Prof. Dr. Martina Drescher
- Prof. Dr. Gudrun Miehe
- Prof. Dr. Rainer Oßwald
- Dr. Manfred von Roncador
- Prof. Dr. Kurt Beck
- Prof. Dr. Dieter Neubert
- Prof. Dr. Gerd Spittler
- Dr. Shola Adenekan
- Prof. Dr. Andrea Behrends
- Dr. Amiel Melnik Bize
- Dr. Abraham Brahima
- Dr. Michelle Louise Clarke
- Dr. Katharina Fink
- Dr. Margret Frenz
- PD Dr. Paolo Gaibazzi
- Dr. Matthias Gebauer
- Dr. Elena Groß
- Dr. Valerie Hänsch
- Dr. Fulera Issaka-Toure
- Dr. Lena Kroeker
- Dr. Sabrina Maurus
- Dr. Aminata Mbaye
- Dr. Samwel Moses Ntapanta
- Dr. Hanna Nieber
- Dr. Jennifer Scheffler
- Dr. Nadine Siegert
- Dr. Ulf Vierke, Prof. Emeritus
- Dr. Christine Vogt-William
- Dr. Emnet Tadesse Woldegiorgis