Lena Kroeker

Scientific career

• Oct. 2025 - Jun. 2026: Representation of the professorship Social Anthropology, University of Bayreuth
• Mar. 2023 - Jun. 2023: Representation of the professorship Social Anthropology, University of Bayreuth
• Jul. 2021 - Oct. 2025: Research Fellow Project Manager, DFG 5028/1-1 "(In)Security of the Kenyan Middle Classes: Social Mobility and the Fear of Falling", University of Bayreuth
• Aug. 2020 - Jun. 2021: Representation of the professortship "Flight, Migration and Social Mobility", University of the Bundeswehr, Munich
• Oct. 2019 - Mar. 2020: Research associate at the chair for Social Anthropology, University of Bayreuth
• Feb. 2013 - Nov. 2018: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies in the sub-project "Middle classes on the move - future concepts between freedom, consumption, tradition and morality”
• May 2013: Research Prize for excellence in policy relevant research on developing countries, Verein für Sozialpolitik und KFW Development Bank
• Nov. 2011: Coordinator at the Institute of African Studies (IAS), preparation of the symposium “Zukunftsforum 2011: ÜberMorgen – Trendsetter Afrika", University of Bayreuth
• Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013: Research associate at the Cultural & Social Anthropology research group
• Oct. 2009 - Mar. 2010: Doctoral student representative at Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS)
• Apr. 2008 - Mar. 2012: BIGSAS doctoral student
• Apr. 2005 - Sep. 2007: Technische Universität Darmstadt: Studies in the interdisciplinary specialization programme “Technologie und internationale Entwicklung (TUE)”
• Oct. 2001 - Jan. 2007: Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Magister Artium in Historical Ethnology, African Linguistics, and Sociology, M.A. thesis: “The situation of the HIV-infected in the social and cultural environment in Bamako (Mali) from the perspective of those affected” (2007)

Work experience

• Apr. 2017 - Nov. 2018: Research associate at the Cultural & Social Anthropology research group (Prof. Dr. Erdmute Alber), University of Bayreuth
• since Feb. 2013: Research associate and Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies (BAAAS), University of Bayreuth
• Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013: Research associate at the Cultural & Social Anthropology research group (Prof. Dr. Erdmute Alber), University of Bayreuth
• Apr. 2008 - Mar. 2011: Research associate and doctoral student at the Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS); University of Bayreuth
• May 2007 - Nov. 2007: Assisent to the Africa group of the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM), Frankfurt am Main
• Feb. 2006 - Aug. 2006: Contributor to the “Gender” sector consulting project of Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), Eschborn
• Jan. 2006 - Feb. 2006: Consultant in the Project against Female Genital Mutilation, Mali; Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), Eschborn

Research areas

• Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Lesotho, South Africa, Mali), African diaspora
• Middle Classes in the Global South, social differentiation, social security, medical anthropology (especially HIV/AIDS, health services research, fertility), gender and generation, future/time/temporality, education, uncertainty
• Migration, Life Course Research

Completed research project

• (In)Security of the Kenyan Middle Classes: Social Mobility and the Fear of Falling (2021-2024)

Miscellaneous

• Since 2019: Editor of the University of Bayreuth African Studies Online (Link)