Department of Psychology
Team
Prof. Dr. Tobias Hecker
Prof. of Clinical Psychology and Violence Research
- Phone
- +49 (0) 521 106-3105
- Fax
- +49 (0) 521 106-6415
- Mailing address
- University Bielefeld P.O. Box 100131 33501 Bielefeld
- tobias.hecker@uni-bielefeld.de
- Room
- X-E1-282
- Hours
- by appointment
- Curriculum vitae
10/2023 Deputy Scientific Director, Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research, Bielefeld, University, Germany 10/2023 Professor (full) of Clinical Psychology & Violence Research, Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Germany 01/2021 Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology & Violence Research (former: Clincal Developmental Psychopathology), Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Germany 08/2020
Emmy-Noether Junior Research Group Leader, Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research & Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Germany 11/2016 – 07/2020 Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Germany 01/2015 – 12/2016 Postdoctoral Research Fellow and subdivision leader “Consequences of trauma and violence” at the Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland 2013 Dr. rer. nat. (PhD), University of Konstanz, Germany, Degree: summa cum laude 04/2011 – 12/2014 Scientific associate at the Department of Psychology and at the Center of Excellence for Psychotraumatology, University of Konstanz, Germany 2011 Diploma (MSc) in Psychology at the Philipps-University of Marburg, Germany 2020 Licensed to practice psychotherapy with children and adolescents 2019 Licensed to practice psychotherapy with adults 2023 Offered Full Professorship (W3) for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology at the Otto-Friedrich-University of Bamberg, Germany (declined) 2022 Offered Full Professorship (W3) for Clincal Psychology & Psychotherapy at the University Mannheim, Germany (declined) 2021 – 2023 Membership in the Junges Kolleg of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Science and the Arts
2020
Admission to the Emmy Noether Program of the German Research Foundation (DFG) 2019/2020 Postdoctoral Fellow of the Daimler and Benz Foundation 2019 Offered Junior Professorship (Assistant Professorship) for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology at the University of Witten-Herdecke, Germany (rejected) 2019 Ranked third in the appointment procedure for the Junior Professorship (Assistant Professorship) with tenure track in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychotherapy at Humboldt University Berlin, Germany 2018 Nomination for the academics-Nachwuchspreis 2018: Young Scientist of the Year (Top-10 position) 2017 DeGPT Advancement Award of the Falk-von-Reichenbach Foundation and the German-Speaking Society of Psychotraumatology 2014 Poster award at the DGPPN, Berlin for the study: Child maltreatment, mental health, and modifications in the DNA methylation in the HPA axis: a study with children in Tanzania - Research interests
- Current Lectures
- Publications
- Further contact details
Ulrike Rogat, Secretary
Dr. Florian Scharpf
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- Phone
- +49 521 106-12741
- florian.scharpf@uni-bielefeld.de
- Room
- X-E1-263
- Hours
- by appointment
- Curriculum vitae
2022- today Training as a child and adolescent psychotherapist with focus on behavioural therapy 2021-today Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research, Bielefeld University (Germany)
2017-2021
PhD scholar at the Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University (Germany)
2019-2020 Research staff at the Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University (Germany)
2011-2017 Studies of Psychology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (Germany), Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg (Germany) and Linköping University (Sweden)
- Research interests
- Causes and consequences of violence, abuse and neglect in children and adolescents
- Prevention and intervention approaches for youth affected by violence
- Role of socio-ecological contexts in shaping children`s mental health risk and resilience
- Mental health in conflict-affected populations
- Psychological trauma and trauma-related disorders
- Publications
- Further contact details
Dr. Katharina Mattonet
- Curriculum vitae
2021 - today Postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research, Bielefeld University (Germany) and Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University (Germany) 2019 - today member of the Open Science Initiative of the Faculty of Psychology at the Ruhr-University Bochum 2020 - today supervising bachelor theses 2019-2020 supervising the experimental psychology lab for bachelor students at the Ruhr-University of Bochum 2018 - 2021 PhD student at the Department of Genetic Psychology (Prof. R. Kumsta) at the Ruhr-University Bochum 2012-2018 student research assistant and tutor at the chair of Research Methods and Experimental Psychology (Prof. Ch. Stahl) at the University of Cologne 2014-2018 Master of Science in Psychology (research major) at the University of Cologne 2011-2014 Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Cologne - Research interests
- Publications
Dr. Katharina Gößmann
- Curriculum vitae
2023 – today Postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research, Bielefeld University (Germany) and Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University (Germany)
2021 – 2022 Project-related research advisor at the Department of Politics & Public Administration at the University of Konstanz (Germany)
2017 – 2020 PhD student at the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (Prof. Frank Neuner), Bielefeld University (Germany)
2014 – 2017 Master of Science studies in Psychology (research major) at the University of Konstanz (Germany) and the University of Bourgogne (France)
2010 – 2014 Bachelor of Science studies in Psychology at the University of Konstanz (Germany) Clinical Education
- Ongoing training in Systemic Psychotherapy at Systemisches Institut, University of Freiburg (Germany)
- Basic training in Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), University of Bielefeld (Germany)
- Basic training in Group therapy approaches for people with a history of forced displacement, University of Bielefeld (Germany)
- Research interests
-
Psychological trauma and trauma-related psychosocial implications
-
Systemic drivers, associations and prevention of gender-based violence
-
Systemic drivers, associations and prevention of violence against children and adolescents
- Mental health in conflict-affected populations and other vulnerable groups
-
- Publications
Getrude Mkinga, M.A.
Ph.D. student/ Research Associate
- Phone
- +49 521 106-86545
- Fax
- +49 521 106-6415
- getrude.mkinga@uni-bielefeld.de
- Room
- X-E1-284
- Hours
- by appointment
- Curriculum vitae
2021 - today Ph.D. candidate, Bielefeld University - Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research & Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University
2014-2017 University of Dar es Salaam - M.A. (Applied Social Psychology)
2015-2016 University of Zurich (Guest Student) - (Courses in M.Sc. Psychology) 2007-2010 Tumaini University, Iringa College - (Bachelor Degree of Counselling)
- Research interests
- Understanding the link between maltreatment in childhood and application of violent punishment in adulthood
- Prevention of maltreatment from parents and caregivers to children
- Prevention of early childhood adversities in order to promote good mental health, academic and economic success in later life
- Publications
Anette Kirika, M.Sc.
Ph.D. student/ Research Associate
- Phone
- +49 521 106-86545
- Fax
- +49 521 106-6415
- Anette.kirika@uni-bielefeld.de
- Room
- X-E1-284
- Hours
- by appointment
Eliud Kabelege, M.A.
- Curriculum vitae
- Research interests
- Publications
Book: The fate of AIDS Orphans in Orphan Care centres in Tanzania: The influence of Orphan Care centre on helping AIDS Orphans children to cope with their orphanhood in Tanzania
Emmanuel Nyarko-Tetteh, M.A.
- Curriculum vitae
Since 2020 Ph.D. candidate and research associate, Department of Psychology and the Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research (IKG) at the University of Bielefeld since autumn 2020, Bielefeld University, Germany
2016-2017 Master’s in International Child Development, University of Haifa, Israel.
2010-2012 Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Project Management, Sikkim Manipal University, India. 1998-2002 Bachelor of Education in Population and Family Life, (Bed. POP/FLE),
University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana.- Research interests
- Child protection and role of parent and community
- Causative relationship between child abuse and emotional development of children in Ghana and Africa
- Role of religious leaders to addressing abuse
- Emotional and attachment development
- Enhancing emotional development and competencies of people living with disabilities
- Publications
- Curriculum Vitae
2022-present Research associate at the Child and Youth Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Clinic Bethel (Bielefeld) 2021- present
Ph.D. student under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Tobias Hecker at the Department of Psychology and Sports Science, Bielefeld University (Germany)
2020-2021
Data Analyst for Child Abuse Investigations at Epiq Global (USA)
2018 – 2019
Research Program Coordinator at the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (USA)
2016 – 2017
T.J. Watson Fellow at the Watson Foundation (USA)
2012 – 2016
International Studies and Psychology student at Haverford College (USA)
Winter 2014
Teaching assistant at the Department of Psychology, Bryn Mawr College (USA)
2020 –2021
Clementine Cope Fellowship (scholarship to pursue graduate education; Haverford College, USA)
2016 – 2017
Watson Fellowship (grant for independent, purposeful study on a topic of choice in international context; Watson Foundation, USA)
Summer 2016
Hurford Center for the Arts and Humanities Research Grant (Haverford College, USA)
Summer 2014
Center for Peace and Global Citizenship Award (grant to pursue summer internship with an NGO; Haverford College, USA)
July 2012
German Foreign Office and Pedagogical Exchange Service Award (Auswärtiges Amt & Pädagogischer Austauschdienst, AATG/PAD cultural immersion study trip, Germany)
- Research interests
- The effects of childhood trauma on psychosocial functioning and risk behaviors in adolescence and young adulthood
- Neurobiological mechanisms linking adverse childhood experiences and psychopathology
- The impact of institutional environment on psychosocial development of children without parental care
- Interventions aimed at preventing maltreatment and improving quality of care in childcare institutions
- Interventions fostering resilience and successful transition to adulthood in youth leaving institutional care
- Curriculum Vitae
2021-today
Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Psychology (Workinggroup Clinical Psychology & Developmental Psychopathology) 2021-today M.A.S. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the University of Bern (Switzerland) 2021-today Training as a psychological psychotherapist (adults) with focus on behavioural therapy at the DGVT-Academy, Bielefeld 2022-23 Emergency Psychologist (BDP, Germany) 2019-2021 M.Sc. Psychology at the Bielefeld University (Germany) and University of Lisbon (Portugal) 2016-2019 B.Sc. Psychology at the Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen (Germany) and Bielefeld University (Germany) - Research interests
- Publications
- Curriculum vitae
October 2022 - today Ph.D. candidate, Bielefeld University - Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research & Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University 2019 – 2022 Master of Education in Biology Education, University of Rwanda – Rukara Campus 2018 – 2020 Master of Education in Educational Psychology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda 2013 – 2016 Bachelor of Science with Education, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda April 2022 – today DAAD PhD Scholarship at Bielefeld University, Germany May 2022 Studienstiftung PhD funding at Bielefeld University, Germany (waived) June 2022 Commonwealth Scholarship at Liverpool John Moores University, UK (waived) 2019 – 2021 Master´s Fellowship Program at University of Rwanda by the Inter-University of Science and Technology - Research interests
- Publications
- Curriculum vitae
2024 - today Training as a child and adolescent psychotherapist with focus on behavioral therapy 2024 - today Research associate at the Institute of Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research, Bielefeld University, Germany and Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Germany 2020 - today Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research, Bielefeld University, Germany and Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Germany 2020 - 2024 Research associate at the University Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Protestant Hospital Bethel, Bielefeld University, Medical School EWL, Bielefeld, Germany 2019 Training in adventure education at the Interakteam GmbH, Detmold, Germany 2017 - 2020 Master of Science in Psychology at the Bielefeld University, Germany 2014 - 2017 Bachelor of Sciences in Psychology at the Bielefeld University, Germany - Research interest
- App-based psychotherapy for adolescents
- Violence and neglect of children and adolescents – causes, consequences and prevention
- Prevention of sexual violence against children and adolescents
- The relation between boundary violations and mental health in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood
- Mental health in vulnerable groups
- Publications
- Curriculum vitae
2024 - today Research Associate and Ph.D. Student, Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research & Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University (Germany) 2021 - 2024 Master of Science in Psychology at Heidelberg University (Germany) with an exchange semester at UC Chile (Chile) 2017 - 2021 Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Trier University (Germany) with an exchange semester at University of Salamanca (Spain) - Research interests
- Publications
PUB Bielefeld University: https://pub.uni-bielefeld.de/person/466932441
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lucas-Wissmann
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.de/citations?user=tDpAEWgAAAAJ&hl=de&oi=ao
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3648-1020
- Curriculum vitae
2024 -present
Ph.D. candidate and research associate, Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research & Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Germany 2019 -
2025Training to become a Psychological Psychotherapist (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Centre for Psychological Psychotherapy, Heidelberg University, Germany 2018 - 2024
Research associate, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Heidelberg University, Germany 2016 - 2018
M.Sc. in Psychology, University of Regensburg, Germany 2013 - 2016
B.Sc. in Psychology, University of Regensburg, Germany - Research interest
- Curriculum vitae
2023 - 2024
Psychological counseling for traumatized children and adolescents 2020 - today
Training as child and adolescent psychotherapist with a focus on psychodynamic therapy and trauma therapy 2019 - 2020
Training to become a Child Protection Specialist (completed) 2015 - 2023
Social-pedagogical activities; work with refugee children and adolescents; social work at school; social and educational family counseling and assistance; sexual education workshops in schools 2015
Diploma in Educational Sciences at Bielefeld University, Germany - Research interest
- Curriculum vitae
2025-
todayResearch Associate, Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research, Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University 2023-
2025Research Assistant/ Research Associate (Developmental Psychology), Osnabrück University 2021-
2022Social Worker, Youth Migration Service, Diakonisches Werk im Kirchenkreis Herford 2016-
2019Project Assistant, Federal Program "Demokratie leben!", Herford 2016-
2019M.Sc. in Psychology, Bielefeld University 2013-
2016B.Sc. in Psychology, Bielefeld University - Research interests
- School-based prevention and intervention to reduce discrimination and strengthen mental health among marginalized youth
- Development of prosocial norms in polarized and diverse school environments
- Participatory training and research methods to include marginalized groups
- Mental health in families with refugee or migration backgrounds and barriers to accessing mental health care
- Curriculum vitae
2023 - present
Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Peace & Conflict Research, Uppsala University
2020 - 2023
Research Assistant, Dept. of Peace & Conflict Research, Uppsala University
2021 M.A. Cultural Anthropology, Uppsala University (Sweden) 2019 - 2020
Intern. Dept. of Peace & Conflict Research, Uppsala University
2016 Psychology, University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) - Research interests
- Publications
Lena Kolwey
- Curriculum vitae
2023 - today Scientific assistant at the department of clinical developmental psychopathology, Bielefeld University (Germany); affiliated with the research project supported by the Emmy Noether Programme: “Effects of violence and maltreatment on the development and well-being of children: Experimental approaches to studying the causal effects of maltreatment reduction”
2020-today Studying the B.Sc. Psychology at Bielefeld University (Germany)
- Research interests
Neele Winkler
- Curriculum vitae
2023 - today Scientic assistant at the department of clinical developmental psychopathology, Bielefeld University (Germany); affiliated with the reasearch project „CANVAS (children, attitudes, norms, violence, and society): do social meanings of violence affect developement of adverse outcomes?“
2020-today Studying the B.Sc. Psychology at Bielefeld University (Germany)
- Research interests
- Curriculum vitae
2023 - today Scientific assistant at the Department of "Clinical Psychology and Violence Research", Bielefeld University (Germany) 2022 - today M.Sc., Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld University (Germany) 2022 - 2023 Scientific assistant at the International Office, Bielefeld University (Germany) 2017 - 2022 B.Sc., Psychology, Bielefeld University (Germany) 2019 Scientific assistant at the Department of "Differential Psychology, Personality Psychology and Psychological Assessment", Bielefeld University (Germany) - Research interests
- Curriculum vitae
2025-
today
Research Assistant, Clinical Psychology and Violence Research (Bielefeld University) 2024-
today
M.Sc. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (Bielefeld University) 2020-
2024
B.Sc. Psychology (University of Mannheim) 2023-
2024
Research Assistant, Zentralinstitut für seelische Gesundheit: Translational Research in Psychiatry 2021-
2022
Research Assistant, Zentralinstitut für seelische Gesundheit: Collaborative Research Center TRR 265 of the DFG 2019-
2020
Volunteer, Siyabonga-Helping Hands for Africa (PMB, South Africa)
assistance in educational program as well as leisure and sports activities; home visits and administrative support- Research interests
- Curriculum vitae
2025-
todayScientific assistant at the Department of Clinical Psychology and Violence Research affiliated with the reasearch project „SchulBasis - School-based support for children from refugee families", Bielefeld University (Germany) 2024-
todayM.Sc., Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld University (Germany) 2020-
2024B.Sc., Psychology, Bielefeld University (Germany) - Research interests
- Curriculum vitae
2025-
today
Scientific Assistant, Department of Clinical Psychology and Violence Research, Bielefeld University (Germany). Affiliated with the Bielefeld Young Researchers Fund project “Operationalizing Boundary Violations” 2024-
today
M.Sc. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld University (Germany)
2024-
2025
Scientific Assistant, School of Public Health, Department of Prevention and Health Promotion, Bielefeld University (Germany). Affiliated with the Horizon Europe project “Building Resilience against Mental illness during Endocrine-sensitive life stages (Re-MEND)” 2022-
2024
Scientific Assistant, Department of Educational Psychology, Bielefeld University (Germany) 2021-
2024
B.Sc. Psychology, Bielefeld University (Germany) - Research interests
- Acute and chronic psychological trauma, associated disorders, and trauma-induced stress responses
- Boundary violations and mental health in childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood
- Stigmatization of mental illness and its impact on help-seeking behaviour and mental health outcomes
- Psychological consequences of emotional maltreatment and neglect