Our Fellows

Social Science Works is supported by an increasing group of Fellows.

Our fellows comprise a diverse, international group of scholars, mostly based in Germany, that share the core ideas behind Social Science Works.

They strive to contribute to the societal relevance of social science and to the quality of democratic decision making. For that account, they publish quality articles and blogs on our homepage targeting a broad audience and they can be hired by us to write second opinions on research about which they have expertise. Additionally, they regularly support our workshops – especially the ones on deliberation – as moderators and consultants.

Zak Reimer MA

Zak Reimer was a German Chancellor Fellow from the Humboldt Foundation conducting research at Social Science Works into grassroots refugee integration efforts in Germany. More information about his project can be found here.

Zak grew up in the state of Montana, USA and first became interested in the subject of migration after studying the issue at the US/Mexico border in 2016. In 2017, Zak began work with refugees at the newly opened office of the International Rescue Committee in Missoula, Montana. While working to help the community welcome refugees, Zak began asking the questions that led him to pursue his research in partnership with Social Science Works: chiefly, what factors strengthen the role a community plays in integrating refugees and how can successful programs in Germany be replicated in the US? Currently, Zak works for the Foreign Office of the USA.

Zak holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Montana State University and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Montana. His other areas of research interest include childhood development, economic justice, and conflict mediation.

Noëlle Wendling

Noëlle is enrolled in a French-German double degree program in political science, at the Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg, and Sciences Po Aix. She is very interested in connecting research to practice. After having studied the general political landscape of both Germany and France, she would like to focus on how the practice of democracy can be improved through education, dialogue, participation, deliberation. At SSW, where she interned between September 2024 and March 2025, Noëlle learned more about this. Noëlle is also interested in a better understanding of the situation of migrants in Germany. She hopes that a better understanding can contribute to a more human dealing with migration in western Europe. During her stay at SSW, Noëlle published an article on populism in France, and an interview with Ali Ghaznawi.

In her free time, she enjoys creative activities, especially making music, ranging from classical to experimental. She also loves traveling and getting to know new people and places.

Eline Sap MA

Eline Sap was a Masterstudent from the Netherlands, working from september 2024 onwards at Social Science Works as an intern. She completed a bachelor’s degree in Pedagogical Sciences at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, after which she switched to the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society.

Though these studies may not usually be connected to one another, both fields are concerned with people, worldviews and societal dynamics.

Eline’s interest in exactly these topics has caused her to enroll in the masters programme Religion, Conflict and Globalisation in Groningen.

The masters’ focus on politics unlocked a new interest, which she further developed during her master thesis, titled Islam as “violent ideology” and immigration policies as “leftist hobbies”: nativist trends in the election manifestos of the Dutch Freedom Party. During her 5 month internship, Eline learned more about the German political situation and its impact on people’s day to day lives.

She published an article on populism in the Netherlands and an interview with Yagout. In her free time, she likes to travel and discover the world.

Akram Yahiaoui MA

Akram Yahiaoui is a passionate multidisciplinary professional from Constantine, Algeria, with master’s degrees in Applied Biochemistry and Law from the University of Constantine 1. Known for his dedication to inclusive governance, participatory democracy, and empowering young people, Akram has built a diverse career rooted in creating positive social impact. He has contributed his expertise as a consultant with KPMG and with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Algeria, advancing projects that strengthen local governance and development.

In 2020, Akram and a group of like-minded activists founded the Youth Capacity and Entrepreneurship Development Association to address gaps in youth engagement and opportunity in his community. As a youth representative on the Communal Advisory Council in Constantine, he actively advocates for the political, social, and economic inclusion of young people, recognizing their potential to drive sustainable change in Algeria’s evolving civic landscape.

His commitment to these causes has been reinforced by participation in several international programs, including the CrossCulture Fellowship, INLOG, and the Professional Fellowship Program, where he honed his expertise in local governance, public policy, and youth inclusion. Now living in Berlin, Akram is expanding his knowledge in governance, democracy, and international cooperation while exploring opportunities to pursue a Ph.D. Combining his background in science and law, he envisions a career that bridges research and practical impact, working toward a future where youth and community empowerment play a central role in development both locally and globally. During his stay at SSW in the last months of 2024, made possible by the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, Akram wrote and published an article on populism in Algeria.

Nadia Lejaille MA

Nadia Lejaille is a German-French lawyer, specialized in German tax law, and project management. She worked for 4 years as a project manager and tax compliance officer for a German cooperative bank. She is interested in cultural differences and the integration of refugees in Germany. For several years she has been involved with the association Start with a Friend e.V. as an intercultural mediator. At Social Science Works, she is responsible for the project management of children’s projects, among other things. In her free time she loves to bake and cook for others.

Laila Keeling BA

Laila Keeling is an undergraduate student at Northeastern University in Boston, studying Political Science and Economics. Most of her coursework thus far has focused on modern political thought and theory, as well as social change in the American political climate. Laila’s interest in immigration politics has largely stemmed from having grown up near the US/Mexico border and therefore witnessing the extensive influence that immigration over the Mexican border has on life and culture within the US. Laila has previously studied the misuse of solitary confinement by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and is interested in comparing the experiences of refugees in Germany and the US. In her spare time, Laila enjoys traveling, baking, and being outdoors. Together with Anjali Zyla, Laila was an intern at Social Science Works in the first half of 2022. During this time, she conducted a large number of interviews with refugees in Brandenburg.

Anjali Zyla BA

Anjali Zyla is a third-year student at Northeastern University, where she studies Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. She previously completed an internship at a law firm in California that focused primarily on immigration law, where she was exposed to the systemic inequalities facing immigrants and refugees in the United States. As an intern at Social Science Works, she is interested in learning more about the experiences of refugees in Germany and policies that can help them. In the first half of 2022, she and Laila Keeling conducted a large number of interviews with refugees in Brandenburg.

Nils Wadt MA

Nils Wadt has been connected to Social Science Works from the very beginning. Nils finished his Bachelor degree in Sociology and Political Science in Cologne and Frankfurt. Both schools are grounded in different research traditions, Frankfurt with a strong background in Critical Theory (Horkheimer & Adorno, Frankfurter Schule) and Cologne with a strong background in empirical research and methodology (René König, Kölner Schule). Nils completed his graduate degree in Social Science at Humboldt University Berlin integrating the different academic backgrounds.

In his Master thesis Nils researched the political motivations and social values of civil volunteers in the refugee sector. His academic profile is leaning towards qualitative methods backed up by general competence in quantitative analysis. His qualitative focus covers methods such as genealogy, content analysis, as well as a variety of interview techniques and participatory observation.

Besides his studies, Nils Wadt worked at Chairs of Sociology, Political Theory, Psychology and Economics, gaining insights into the different research practices and epistemological groundings.

Within his work and studies in the academy, Nils Wadt apprehended the problems, contemporary social science is facing. This includes not only the separation between empirical research practice and the evaluation of its epistemological assumptions, but also the growing irrelevancy of academic research to civil society. His commitment to the project of Social Science Works is grounded in this apprehension.

Alessia Arbustini MA

Alessia obtained a Master in Gender Studies with special reference to the Middle East at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. Her thesis addressed how young Muslims challenge islamophobic propaganda in Italy. She holds a BA in Anthropology, Religion and Oriental Civilization at the University of Bologna, Italy. Her main research interests lie in queer and feminist diaspora studies, migration and displacement, gender issues related to new nationalisms and feminist and queer knowledge production. She is currently an educator at a Berlin refugee home for unaccompanied minor refugees. Here she is working with 16 teenagers, mostly male, of 14-17 years of age. In addition, she is a learning support assistant at Nelson Mandela International School, where she supports primary kids with special needs. Previously, she volunteered as a project assistant at Centro Donna Giustizia (women’s shelter) in a project addressed to survivors of human trafficking in Italy. In London, she volunteered as project assistant for the Afghan and Central Asia Association(ACAA), where she assisted Afghan women during English lessons and helped to organize weekly workshops on the topic of their interests (Tea corner project).

Evelyn Callapino Guarachi MA

Evelyn Callapino Guarachi is from Potosí, Bolivia. She is Master of Arts in History of the Andes, fellow of the Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO-Ecuador). Licentiate in Political Sciences from Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo.

She won the Margaret McNamara Education Grant for her Master thesis entitled: “Mujeres mineras potosinas: Género, memoria e historia, 1975-2022” (Female Mine Workers in Potosí: Gender, Memory, and History, 1975-2022). Recently, she was awarded a fellowship from the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (ifa) to join Social Science Works. At SSW Evelyn stayed for three months, a period in which she, among other things, published an article on populism in Bolivia.

Currently, her research focuses on Political Sciences, Andean History, Gender and Subaltern Studies.

A strong believer in the positive changes that grassroots organizing can achieve, Evelyn co-founded “Mujer de Plata“, an independent and non-partisan feminist collective that provides psychological and legal support to victims of gender-based violence and their families in a context of violence and inequality. She has developed awareness campaigns on rights and equality through talks, prevention programs, and theatrical art, and has played an active role in the reopening and monitoring of cases of violence, femicides, and child abuse.

Evelyn has published in various journalistic outlets, including several Bolivian newspapers, speaking out against violence and highlighting her feminist struggles. Her opinion column, Pushka/Qapu Feminista, addresses the situation of women in Bolivia, the problems of inequality and exclusion in Potosí, her native town, and the national public debate.

Evelyn is committed to knowledge in the service of all, but in particular that of historically excluded people. Given the current situation of violence, machismo, inequalities, and rights violations. Evelyn believes that academic studies should be connected with street realities.

Sahba Salehi MA

Sahba Salehi studied International Humanitarian Action (NOHA) at the University of Groningen. She has previously studied International Development at the University of Edinburgh and has an undergraduate degree in English Language. She has experience working with the Danish Refugee Council on a project for Afghan refugee children’s access to education in Iran. Prior to this, Sahba also has worked as a language teacher and an education coordinator in a comm

unity center in Tehran. She is passionate about alternative types of education as a means of social change and promoting equality. Her other interests include issues related to working with communities on different areas such as education, participation, and integration. As an intern with Social Science Works, Sahba is excited to improve her knowledge of democracy and deliberation. She is also interested in exploring the impacts of SSW as a local NGO on the community and the challenges, achievements, and learnt lessons of the projects.

Yasmine Benyoussef BA

Yasmine is a Gender and Diversity student from Tunisia, currently studying at the University of Applied Sciences Rhine-Waal in Kleve. Before finding her true passion, she finished a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science in her home country. Her interests include women’s rights, equality, awareness, consciousness, and inclusion of minorities. In 2017, she volunteered in a Kindergarten for children with a migration background in Hamburg as part of the federal voluntary service with the NGO Diakonie. She spent the summer of 2023 volunteering and working in several events as part of the awareness team, preventing and dealing with harassment, discrimination, violence, and conflicts.

During her 6-month-internship with Social Science Works, she contributed to the project interviews with refugees and other projects, as well as gained practical skills in the local NGO field.

Yusril Nurhidayat BA

Yusril holds a BA at New York University in Abu Dhabi where he studied Social Research and Public Policy with minors in Political Science and Economics. He started his internship at SSW in October 2020. Yusril has done several projects in ethnographic field research. In one of them he studied the effects of social-participatory theater activities for the post-genocide reconciliation process in Kigali, Rwanda. Yusril is also very interested in transnational cooperation regarding migration, especially in the context of the European Union. He has worked with Athens local authority in addressing integration issues with refugees in Eleonas, one of the biggest refugee camps in Greece. Lately, he has been developing an interest in quantitative data analysis of how the Coronavirus pandemic has led to the rise of nationalism and deglobalization across the globe.

Originally from Indonesia, Yusril’s experiences in living, studying, and working in several different countries have equipped him with a global perspective and a range of skills to work with diverse teams in international settings. Lastly, Yusril is very passionate about the diplomacy world. His diplomatic career began when he was 15 representing Indonesia at the UNESCO Youth Forum 2014. In December 2019, he was chosen as the youngest diplomatic assistant that accompanied the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs to attend the 2019 Asian-European Foreign Ministers Meeting in Madrid, Spain.

Marie-Luise Arriens

Marie-Luise Arriens, born in Dresden, studied acting at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz/Austria after graduating from high school. In 2003 she came to Potsdam for her first engagement at the Hans-Otto-Theater. 2007-2009 followed an engagement at the Theater Bautzen. Since 2010 she has been working as a freelance actress, theater pedagogue and speaker.
Her artistic work focuses on solo productions. In preparation is a play for children from 5 years on. The theme is self-confidence and growth.
In her theater pedagogical work with children, young people and adults, she focuses on personality development, identity issues and body awareness. In 2019, Marie-Louise founded the senior theater group “Die Vielfältigen” in Potsdam, which she has been leading ever since. Together with Mirjam Neebe, she conducted workshops under the motto “Sag mir, wer du bist” (Tell me who you are) for refugee women.

Aryaan Bovenberg BA

Aryaan studied International Development, with a main focus on Politics and Communication in Development at Wageningen University and Research. During her studies she took part in the Food and Nutrition Security Excellence Program of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Further, as a board member of the student group Amnesty International Wageningen she organized evenings and masterclasses on for example refugee rights. This leads to an interest in the deliberative projects of Social Science Works. Aryaan has been working as an intern at SSW from September till December 2020 and is still involved in many of our activities.

Dr. Asaf Leshem

Asaf completed a dissertation at the iDTR (Institute for Dark Tourism Research) at the University of Central Lancashire. Focusing on the large yet under-researched dark tourism segment in Berlin, his research is concerned with tour guides’ interpretation, in their role as mediators or ‘Ambassadors of the City’ (Botschafter der Stadt).

Prior to moving to Berlin, Asaf graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Ecotourism from the University of Central Lancashire. In his final thesis, he compared the roles and responsibilities of private and NGO ecotourism stakeholders in Ethiopia. In Berlin’s Humboldt University’s Agriculture and Horticulture Faculty, Asaf completed a master degree in Integrated Natural Resource Management (environmental economics). For his master thesis, as part of the LILAC project (Living Landscapes China), he researched socio-environmental coevolution within the team’s focus on adoption of agricultural innovations in the Nabanhe Nature Reserve, China.

His choice of research topics, as well as his interest in Social Science Works, derives from his wish to find the balance between adding to scientific knowledge, and making that knowledge useful, accessible, and common outside the academic circles.

Yamen Fouda BA

Yamen is an architect and urban planner from Syria. He studied at Al-Wataniya University and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. His professional motto is “unless you put a function to your creation – it’s not architecture, it’s just visual art”. Architects not only have to create objects of beauty, but also objects that are practical and functional. To realize this goal, inputs from the social sciences are essential, which also explains Yamens interest in a cooperation with Social Science Works. In the deliberative workshops of SSW in the refugee home in Wünsdorf Yamen was one of the most involved participants. Having experienced the consequences of a lack social deliberation in Syria, he would like to contribute to the spread of deliberation in more and more communities.

Anne Flake MA

Anne Flake is a recent Public Policy graduate of the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin. Before joining the Hertie School of Governance, Anne majored in International Development (BA) at Leiden University College, and worked at local NGOs in Turkey, Myanmar and the Netherlands. Anne previously worked with GIZ for a multisector programme aimed at strengthening the resilience of refugees and host-communities in Syria’s neighbouring countries. For her master thesis, Anne conducted field research in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to study the concept of procedural legitimacy in the interaction between local (government) stakeholders and external aid actors.

Anne is specifically interested in challenges related to inclusive education, (forced) migration, governance in areas of limited statehood, human rights in authoritarian and conflict-affected contexts, and social policy. She believes that deliberation and participatory approaches to policy-making are valuable tools to building more inclusive societies – be they in Germany, the Netherlands or beyond.

Phillip Reißenweber MA

Phillip Reißenweber is a political scientist and doctoral candidate at the University of Greifswald. During the course of his study his main area of interest comprised contemporary questions of political theory as well as questions of methodology and research designs. He is also a communications coach, trained in Nonviolent Communication based on the approach by Marshall B. Rosenberg. His experience with this approach towards intra- as well as interpersonal conflict resolution, with its emphasis on emotions and needs, led him to believe that emotional development is an important prerequisite for the accomplishment of democratic values like political equality and social justice. In his M.A. thesis he brought political science and Nonviolent Communication together by analysing the connections between cognitive-evaluative theories of emotions and the principles behind representative democracy. His PhD thesis partly continues this project by analysing the role of emotions in political deliberation and investigating possible designs for real-world deliberative settings. Settings which are capable to integrate even subtle aspects of
emotionality into public discourse. Besides all that Phillip is a passionate Balfolk dancer, he loves to read novels, cycling and he enjoys listening to music.

Akram Yacob MA

Akram Yacob graduated from the Hertie School of Governance with a Master in Public Policy. After spending 6 months at the United Nations Volunteers in Bonn, he wrote his thesis on the topic of improving social media stakeholder engagement using Big Data, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Prior to that, he graduated from the Singapore Management University with a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Sociology and Corporate Communication. Over the years, his research interests have gravitated towards technology, urbanization and development.

Born and raised in Singapore, he worked for several years in the government in Singapore. Additionally, he has been part of several start-ups from public-service platforms to decentralized AI platforms. He loves animals and has spent time volunteering with the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore) and the Animal Care Center of NYC (ACC).

Michael Häfelinger MA

Michael Häfelinger is economist, sociologist, and health care researcher. He works as a business consultant (www.unternehmercoaches.de) and is the Managing Director of the Berlin Institute for public health (www.biph.de).

His academic heart beats for equal opportunities. At TOPOS city research he was jointly responsible for the determination of rent ceilings in redevelopment and environmental protection areas. He also developed the set of indicators for the social report of the State of Brandenburg. Later he worked at the Robert-Koch-Institute on the poverty and wealth report of the Federal Government and co-designed the federal health survey.

These predominantly analytical level he left with entering the Berlin Institute for Public Health. Here he devotes himself to the implementation of health promotion measures in the workplace and city neighborhoods. As a management consultant for cooperation, he is specialized in participation and esteeming communication in corporations.