Research

I explore structures of asymmetrical dependencies within the late antique and early medieval Church and similar structures linking the Church of this period to its surrounding societies. My current project "Handling Homicide" focusses on the occurrence of such structures in the ecclesiastical judiciary and the system of penance. Here, particular attention will be directed to what could be called "ethical greyzone cases", such as abortion, suicide, and self-defence. In line with more recent efforts within social and cultural history to review the sources in their context and with regard to their value for a social history, I am looking to compile a comprehensive history of the Church's perspective on and handling of the capital sin of homicide in late antiquity and the early middle ages (400–800).

Current Position

• 2019–present            Research Group Leader "Structures of Dependency in the Late Antique and Early Medieval Western Church",
                                       Research Area C, Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies, University od Bonn, Germany

Education

• 2009–2014                 Ph.D. Studies, Department of Church History, Faculty of Protestant Theology, University of Bonn, Germany and
                                       Trinity College, Oxford University, UK
• 2002–2009                 M.A. Studies (Kirchliches Examen) in Protestant Theology, Universities of Heidelberg and Bonn, Germany

Academic Positions

• 2012–2019                 Research Associate, Department of Church History, Faculty of Protestant Theology, University of Bonn,
                                        Germany (interrupted by research stays and parental leave)
• 2011–2012                 Executive Manager, Zentrum für Religion und Gesellschaft [Centre for Religion and Society] (ZERG), University
                                        of Bonn, Germany
• 2009–2010                 Coordinator Master's Programme "Ecumenical Studies", Zentrum für Religion und Gesellschaft
                                        [Centre for Religion and Society] (ZERG), University of Bonn, Germany 

Additional Activities in the Academe and Wissenschaftsmanagment

• 2019–present              Elected Member of "Fachkommission 1", Evangelisch-Theologischer Fakultätentag
• 2018–present              Peer Reviewing for Zeitschrift für Kirchengeschichte
• 2017– present             Founding Member of the "Interessenvertretung des wissenschaftlichen Mittelbaus an evangelisch-theologischen
                                         Fakultäten und Instituten für evangelische Theologie in Deutschland (IVWM-EvTh)"
• 2014–2018                  Member of the Faculty Board and Elected Representative of Academic Employees at the Faculty of
                                         Protestant Theology, University of Bonn, Germany 

Third Party Funding

• Fritz Thyssen Foundation, (joint project 2018)
• Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG) Mainz, (individual project 2013)
• Graduate, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), (individual project 2010–2011)

Selected Publications

• Slaves and Slavery in the Early Medieval Penitentials. Forthcoming.
• Handling Abortion: An Exemplary Study of the (In)dependence of Early Medieval Penitential Rulings. In: ZKG (2019). Forthcoming.
• The Thompson Case. In: ZNThG 26 (2019), 20–46.
• Apostolikumsstreitigkeiten: Diskussionen um Lehre, Liturgie und Kirchenverfassung in der preußischen Landeskirche 1871–1914. In: AKThG 44. Leipzig 2016.