I am a doctoral candidate and Annenberg Graduate Fellow at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. I am also a graduate assistant, i.e. a research and teaching assistant with the Annenberg School.

At Annenberg, I am part of the Virtual Worlds Observatory and Annenberg's Network on Networks (ANN).

My focus within the PhD program at Annenberg is on 'New Media and Technology'. Many years ago, I started playing online games, some first person shooters, and strategy games and I became incredibly fascinated not only with the immersive effects these games have on their users but also with all the kinds of social interaction within online games. My latest fascination is with video game live streaming.

I am also particularly intrigued by user experience research and design. What influences how users experience media technologies? How does a player experience an online game or a virtual world emotionally and how does this experience change if there are other players involved (going from a single- to a multiplayer perspective)?

Please check out projects for more information on my ongoing research and design projects!

When I don't do research or game or watch Twitch (and do research while doing so, of course), I am an avid advocate for cycling and public transport in LA. I try to attend CicLAvia regularly and love exploring this incredible city on a bicycle. While LA was definitely built for driving, I believe that there are many aspects of this amazing urban area that people in cars miss out on.

EDUCATION

2007 - 2010

Ph.D. in 'Communication – New Media and Technology' at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

M.A. in 'Communication in Social and Economic Contexts' at Berlin University of the Arts

B.A. in 'Communication in Social and Economic Contexts' at Berlin University of the Arts

Chemistry / Biology at University of Saarland in Saarbrücken

German High School Diploma at 'Wirtschaftswissenschaftliches Gymnasium' in Saarbrücken

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

09/11 - 08/12

Summer Internship at Ninja Metrics

ui / metrics / analytics / market research / seo

Part-Time Student Employee at Yocoy Technologies GmbH

seo / smo / online marketing and pr

Freelance Student Employee at the Institute of Electronic Business in Berlin

social media / online consulting

Part-Time Student Employee at Berlin University of the Arts

student program coordinator and student counselor

Part-Time Student Employee at Metaversum GmbH

online marketing and blogger-relations for the virtual world Twinity

Intern at Plazes AG in Berlin

marketing and community development for the location-based service Plazes

Callcenter-Agent at Call4U GmbH in Saarbrücken

2009 - 2012

03 - 10/2008

05 - 09/2007

2004 - 2007

2010 - 2012

2003 - 2007

June 2003

since 2012

04 - 08/2012

06 - 08/2013