Scientific Research Profile

My career as an academic has been guided by a commitment to interdisciplinary research and societal impact. With dual doctoral qualifications in Political Science and Economics and a Habilitation from the University of Duisburg-Essen, I specialize in negotiation studies, sustainability, and governance. My work addresses global challenges through innovative methodologies and bridges academic research with practical policy applications.

Research Achievements and Impact

1. High-Impact Publications:
I have published extensively in prestigious Q1 journals, including Environmental Research Letters, Sustainability, and Applied Sciences. These contributions focus on critical areas such as climate governance, sustainability transitions, and global development, with a strong citation record reflecting their influence. My monograph, Taming the Big Green Elephant, provides a transformative framework for sustainability and demonstrates my ability to distill complex ideas into actionable insights.

2. Institutional Synergies and Multidisciplinary Expertise:
The institutions where I have worked have been pivotal in shaping my research and amplifying its impact.

• At the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), I contributed to projects on voluntary sustainability standards and global governance. IDOS's strong connections with international policymakers allowed my work to inform policy dialogues across Germany, Brazil, India, and Indonesia.

• As part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report, I collaborated with leading global experts to produce insights on energy systems that continue to guide climate mitigation strategies.

• During my tenure at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), I developed negotiation models and facilitated stakeholder engagements, demonstrating the real-world applications of my research.

• At GIGA, I lead the "Transfer for Transformation" (T4T) initiative, leveraging knowledge exchange to address global challenges like digital transformation and indigenous knowledge preservation.

These experiences provided access to cutting-edge interdisciplinary networks and established platforms for translating research into actionable strategies.

3. Societal Impact through Policy and Collaboration:
A defining feature of my research is its application to real-world problems.

• I played a key role in the SHAPE Sustainable Development Pathways Project, developing scenarios to align climate targets with sustainable development goals. These pathways have informed discussions at the international policy level.

• My work on voluntary sustainability standards with UN agencies, including UNIDO and UNCTAD, has contributed to the development of governance frameworks that incentivize sustainable practices in high-emission industries.

• The establishment of a Center of Excellence in Sustainable Energy in the Philippines, which I co-developed, exemplifies my commitment to empowering local stakeholders with tailored solutions.

Through these initiatives, my research has advanced global conversations on sustainability and directly impacted local and regional development.

4. Innovations in Research Methodology:
My work integrates traditional and novel methodologies, including:

• The application of game theory and futures scenarios to understand complex transformations.

• A social science perspective on integrated assessment models (IAMs), enriching them with governance and behavioral insights.

• The development of the “Phases Model of Transformation to Sustainability (T2S),” which structures pathways to sustainable transitions through a negotiation lens.

These approaches ensure that my research remains accessible and relevant to both academic and non-academic audiences.