Curriculum Vitae

University education

2004 Diplom-Informatiker (FH) degree (BS+MS equivalent in information technology), University of Applied Sciences Mittweida.

2004-2006 Magister (M.A. equivalent) student in study of religion, auxiliary subjects: psychology and cultural anthropology, University of Leipzig.

2006-2008 M.A. student in study of religion, University of Leipzig.

2008 M.A. degree in the study of religion, University of Leipzig

since 2009 Doctoral candidate in the study of religion, University of Leipzig

Relevant occupations

since 2001 Freelance translator, various publishers.

2006 Student assistant, Study of Religion Institute at the University of Leipzig, May to December.

2006 Intern, Psychology of Religion Research Group, University of Trier, July to October.

2007 Freelance editor for Lexikon der Weltreligionen [Lexicon of World Religions], Wissen Digital Verlag.

2007 Intern, Psychology of Religion Research Group, University of Trier, February to March.

2008-2010 Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft [Research assistant], University of Leipzig 

since 2010 Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter [Research associate], University of Leipzig

Publications

Digitale Bildtransformationen und ihr Einsatz in der Lehre an der Hochschule Mittweida (FH). [Digital image transforms and their use in teaching at the University of Applied Sciences Mittweida]. Thesis for attainment of the degree of Diplom- Informatiker (FH) at the University of Applied Sciences Mittweida, 2003.

Ergebnisbericht zur religionspsychologischen Studie ”Intersubjektivität von Tranceerleben durch religiös-rituelle Körperhaltungen” [Results report of the psychology of religion study ”Intersubjectivity of trance experiences through religious-ritual body postures”]. In: Zeitschrift für junge Religionswissenschaft 3, 2007. PDF

Improving tension regulation in patients with personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and bulimia, with Solzbacher S, Memmesheimer M, Mussgay L, Rüddel H. In: Sorbi MJ, Rüddel H, Bühring MEF (Eds.): Frontiers in Stepped eCare, p.111-120. Utrecht: Universiteit Utrecht 2007.

Das Forschungsprojekt "Zur Psychologie von Glaubenszweifeln" [The research project "On the psychology of religious doubt"] with Lehmann A, Rosenthal R. In Murken S. (Ed.): Ohne Gott leben. Religionspsychologische Aspekte des "Unglaubens". Marburg: Diagonal Verlag 2008.

Opposition zum Christentum [Opposition to Christianity] with Lehmann A. In Murken S. (Ed.): Ohne Gott leben. Religionspsychologische Aspekte des "Unglaubens". Marburg: Diagonal Verlag 2008.

Empirische Überprüfung der Auswirkung von facial feedback auf die subjektive Wahrnehmung von Ritualen [Empirical examination of the effect of facial feedback on the subjective perception of ritual]. Thesis for attainment of the Master of Arts degree in Religionswissenschaft [Study of Religion], University of Leipzig. PDF

Ohne Gott leben. Religionspsychologische Aspekte des "Unglaubens" [Life without God. Psychology of religion perspectives on "Disbelief"]. In: Bergold, Ralph, Becker-Huberti, Manfred (Hrsg.): Was glaubt, wer nicht glaubt? Katholisch-Soziales Institut 2009. .

To say "Krishna" is to smile - emotion psychology and the neurology of mantra singing. In "The Varieties of Ritual Experience" (ed. by Jan Weinhold & Geoffrey Samuel)  as a section of the series "Ritual Dynamics and the Science of Ritual", Volume II: "Body, performance, agency and experience". Wiesbaden, Germany: Harrassowitz 2010.

What promotes and inhibits cooperation in mental health care across disciplines, services and service sectors? A qualitative study with Bramesfeld A, Ungewitter C, El Jurdi J, Losert C, Kilian R. In: Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences 21(1), pp. 63-71.

Struktur und Kooperation in der Versorgung psychisch Kranker [Structure and cooperation in mental health care] with Ungewitter C, El-Jurdi J, Kilian R, Losert C, Ludwig K, Steinkohl V, Bramesfeld A. In: Der Nervenarzt. DOI 10.1007/s00115-011-3433-1. In press.

Convention papers

Vereint gegen das System: New Age und Anarchie [United against the system: New Age and anarchism]. Paper delivered at the Studierendensymposium Religionswissenschaft, Fribourg 2005.

Quo vadis Religionswissenschaft? Perspektiven Studierender. [Quo vadis study of religion? Students' perspectives.] With Rosenthal R, Roth J, Lehmann A, Führding S. Panel presented at the 27. Biannual Conference of the Deutsche Vereinigung für Religionswissenschaft. Bayreuth 2005.

Workshop Experimentelle Religionspsychologie [Workshop on experimental psychology of religion]. Workshop led at the Studierendensymposium Religionswissenschaft, Marburg 2006.

Digitale Bildtransformationen und die Quantifizierung der Tauglichkeit von Bildern für religiöse Zwecke [Digital image transforms and quantifying the usability of images for religious purposes]. Paper delivered at the Arbeitstagung Religionsästhetik, München 2007.

Devianzwirtschaftslehre statt Pluralisierungsgerede: Vorteile religionsökonomischer Theoriebildung am praktischen Beispiel [Economics of deviance instead of pluralization talk: advantages of economic theorizing on religion in a practical case]. Paper delivered at the Studierendensymposium Religionswissenschaft, Leipzig 2007.

Workshop Jobchancen trotz Religionswissenschaft [Workshop on job opportunities in spite of the study of religion], with Böhnhardt F. Workshop led at the Studierendensymposium Religionswissenschaft, Leipzig 2007.

Rational choice, hidden knowledge and the phenomenology of magic. Paper delivered at the DVRW/EASR-Conference, Bremen 2007.

Die Neurologie des Mantrasingens: Eine religionspsychologische Experimentalstudie [The neurology of mantra singing: an experimental study in the psychology of religion]. Paper delivered at the Studierendensymposium Religionswissenschaft, Münster 2008.

To say "Krishna" is to smile - emotion psychology and the neurology of mantra singing. Paper delivered at the Ritual Dynamics and the Science of Ritual 2008 conference.

Ohne Gott leben. Religionspsychologische Aspekte des "Unglaubens" [Life without God. Psychology of religion perspectives on "Disbelief"]. Paper delivered at the 2. Bad Honnefer disputatio 2008.

Facial feedback as a predictor of vowel selection in mantras. Paper delivered at the biannual conference of the International Association for the Psychology of Religion, Vienna 2009.

New EEG and personality correlates of Mystical Experience. Paper delivered at the biannual conference of the International Association for the Psychology of Religion, Bari 2011.

Poster presentations

Facial feedback als Prädiktor der Auswahl von Vokalen in Mantren [Facial feedback as a predictor of vowel selection in mantras]. Poster presented at the biannual conference of the Deutsche Vereinigung für Religionswissenschaft, Bochum 2009.

Seminars

Wesentliche Ergebnisse empirischer Religionspsychologie [Essential findings of the empirical psychology of religion], winter term 2009/2010.

Student-organized seminars 

Religionen in Leipzig [Religions in Leipzig], with Bamert M, winter term 2005/2006.

Von Arktische Religion bis Zigarrenzauber: ungewöhnliche Themen der Religionswissenschaft [From arctic religion to cigar magic: unusual topics in the study of religion], with Bamert M and Rosenthal R, summer term 2006.

Geschichte der Esoterik [History of esotericism], summer term 2007.

Wikipedia als religionswissenschaftliches Forschungsobjekt [Wikipedia as an object of study of religion research], with Liesche S, winter term 2007/2008.

Publications (popular science)

Distanzprobleme: Zum religionswissenschaftlichen Umgang mit dem Okkultismus [Problems of distance: On treating occultism in study of religion]. In: Der Golem: Zeitschrift für Magick, Gnosis und Metaphysik 19, 2005.

Ein Blick hinter die Kulissen der okkulten Rockszene: Metal und Okkultismus [An offstage look at the occult rock scene: Metal music and occultism]. In: RockHard 226, 2006.

The Matrix Tarot. Video published on YouTube, Nov 25, 2007.

Psychological study of mantra singing. Video published on YouTube, Jan 1, 2009.