Prof. Dr. Dieter Wagner is Vice President of the University of Potsdam for Knowledge and Technology Transfer and is Professor for Business Management with a focus on organization and human resources management. Prof. Wagner is Founding Director of BIGS. More about him is available here. 

Dr. Tim H. Stuchtey studied economics at the University of Münster and completed his doctoral degree at the Technische Universität Berlin in the field of economic and infrastructure policy under Prof. Hans-Jürgen Ewers. He worked as personal advisor to the president of the Technische Universität before transferring to the economic policy office of a German industry association.

In 2001 he moved to the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin where he became the head of the newly created office for strategic development and planning, and later chief of staff of the office of the president.

At Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, he established the Humboldt Institution on Transatlantic Issues (HITI). In 2007 he became Senior Fellow and Program Director Business and Economics of the renowned American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC.

In 2010 he became Executive Director of the newly-founded Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security (BIGS) in Potsdam. His research focuses include the economics of security, transatlantic economic relations and classical regulatory policy. 

Dr. Stuchtey's publications

E-Mail: tim.stuchtey(at)bigs-potsdam.org

Kristin Krüger studied German and sociology at the University of Rostock. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she continued her studies at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, in the fields of sociology and political science, where she developed her interest in security studies. Inspired through her work in the project “The Micropolitics of Armed Groups” with Prof. Klaus Schlichte, she wrote her master’s thesis on the independence process of violent non-state actors. Currently she is continuing to develop her specialization by pursuing a second master’s degree in military studies at the University of Potsdam. 

Kristin Krüger has worked at BIGS since 2010, as Assistant to the Managing Director. She monitors and supports the institute’s scientific work, organizes BIGS events and works to ensure that the institute’s daily operations function smoothly.

 E-Mail: kristin.krueger(at)bigs-potsdam.org

Constance Pary Baban is a doctoral candidate at Leibniz University Hanover and a Non-Resident Fellow in the Foreign and Domestic Policy Program of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC. Since January she is also a Visiting Fellow at BIGS in Potsdam.

Within her Ph.D. thesis Constance Baban explores the security policy change in Germany since 9/11 through an interdisciplinary linguistic and political science based discourse-analysis. Her field of expertise includes security policy with a focus on domestic and national security policy in Germany, and within a European and transatlantic framework. In her research she specializes on the examination of security policy change through the analysis of political discourses on security. 

Constance Baban holds a Magistra Artium degree in German Linguistics and Political Science from Leibniz University Hanover as well as in Media and Communication Studies from the Institute for Journalism and Communication Research at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media.

E-Mail: constance.baban(at)bigs-potsdam.org

Dr. Stefano Casertano studied Business and Economics at the L.u.i.s.s.-Guido Carli University and in 2008 received an M.B.A. from Columbia University (New York). In 2011 he got his Ph.D. at Potsdam University in International Politics with his thesis "Peace and Conflict in Oil and Gas Rich Regions. Analyzing the Patterns of Resource Related Nationalism".

From 2003 to 2006 Stefano has been "Senior Consultant" at the consulting company "Booz Allen Hamilton". In 2009 he worked as "International Negotiations Advisor" for the Italian energy company "Eni". In 2010 he has been "International Affairs Advisor" for the Italian Industry Ministry. In 2011 he will publish his fourth book about energy policy and politics.

Since January 2011 Stefano is "Senior Research Fellow" at BIGS. His research focus is the security of energy supply, with special interest on the new developments of renewables.

E-Mail: stefano.casertano(at)bigs-potsdam.org

Stefano Casertano's publications

Dr. S. Chase Gummer  is Senior Research Fellow at BIGS. He has worked at the Office of Global Affairs and Public Policy at Daimler Chrysler AG and taught international history at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service Qatar in Doha, Qatar. He earned his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and completed his M.A. and Ph.D. from Georgetown University. He has written widely on issues relating to international economics, economic history, as well as the politics of the European Union.

E-Mail: chase.gummer(at)bigs-potsdam.org

Maximilian Mueller is a geographer (diplom) who completed his studies in geography, economics and transportation science at the University of Cologne. During his studies and earlier career he worked on several research projects in infrastructure economics. 

He has been a Junior Research Fellow at BIGS since May 2010, where he has focused especially on the economic aspects of infrastructure and security.  

E-Mail: maximilian.mueller(at)bigs-potsdam.org

Alexander Ritzmann is a Political Analyst and Senior Fellow at the European Foundation for Democracy in Brussels and at the American Institute of Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC. His work focuses on the production of risk analyses and solutions development in the areas of extremism, terrorism and national security. 

Ritzmann has provided expert opinions to the European Council, European Commission, the US Congress, US Department of Homeland Security and the US State Department. He also advises members of the German Bundestag, the US Congress and European Parliament.

Ritzmann has been a fellow at BIGS since January 2012 and was a visiting fellow in 2011. 

E-Mail: alexander.ritzmann(at)bigs-potsdam.org

Alexander Ritzmann's publications

Therese Skrzypietz studied business administration at the University of Münster. During her studies she spent one semester at the Wroclaw University of Economics in Poland and worked at the Institute of Transport Economics in Münster. After completing her master’s degree in September 2009, she was a Junior Research Fellow at the Institute and Seminar for Transport Economics at the University of Cologne and worked on research projects in the area of transport economics and was teaching students.

She has been a Junior Research Fellow at BIGS since January 2011 and is particularly concerned with the use of modern techniques in the airspace in support of civil security.

E-Mail: therese.skrzypietz(at)bigs-potsdam.org