Completed Dissertations
Congratulations to LIFE Fellows who have successfully defended their dissertations!
2026 |
Defense Date |
|---|---|
| Marlene Hecht, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | Submitted January 2026 |
2025 |
|
| Jens Heumann, University of Zurich | November 2025 |
| Muna Aikins, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | October 2025 |
| Warsha Barde, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Dresden | October 2025 |
| Francesca Mele, University of Potsdam | August 2025 |
| Kenn Dela Cruz, University of Virginia | 2025 |
| Isabelle Moore, University of Virginia | July 2025 |
| Urmimala Ghose, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | July 2025 |
| Savannah Adams, University of Michigan | May 2025 |
| Minah Kim, University of Virginia | March 2025 |
| Jahla Osborne, University of Michigan | March 2025 |
| Allison Rae Ward-Seidel, University of Virginia | March 2025 |
2024 |
Defense Date |
| Alexander Skowron, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | November 2024 |
| Nour Tawil, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | October 2024 |
| Michael Geers, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | October 2024 |
| Vanessa Frei, University of Zurich | August 2024 |
| Lee LeBoeuf, University of Virginia | August 2024 |
| Claire Pauley, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | June 2024 |
| Sonja Sudimac, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | June 2024 |
| Sina A. Schwarze, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | May 2024 |
| Kathy Xie, University of Michigan | May 2024 |
| Rita Hu, University of Michigan | April 2024 |
| Blake Ebright, University of Michigan | March 2024 |
| Sophie Stallasch, Universität Postdam | February 2024 |
| Jannik Orzek, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | January 2024 |
2023 |
Defense Date |
| Laura Buchinger, Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin | November 2023 |
| Plamina Dimanova, University of Zurich | November 2023 |
| Raffael Schmitt, University of Zurich | October 2023 |
| Meghan Costello, University of Virginia | 2023 |
| Katharine E. Daniel, University of Viginia | 2023 |
| Evan Giangrande, University of Virginia | 2023 |
| Sharon Savell, University of Virginia | 2023 |
| Elisa Buchberger, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | July 2023 |
| Fivos Iliopoulos, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | July 2023 |
| Anna Thoma, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | July 2023 |
| Eleftheria Papadaki, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | June 2023 |
| Michael Krämer, DIW Berlin | June 2023 |
| Laura Bechtiger, University of Zurich | May 2023 |
| Andrea Hasl, University of Potsdam | May 2023 |
| Christoph Koch, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | May 2023 |
| Zita Mayer, University of Zurich | May 2023 |
| Victoria Schüttengruber, University of Zurich | March 2023 |
| Ann-Kathrin Jöchner, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | February 2023 |
2022 |
Defense Date |
| Stefan Heß, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | December 2022 |
| Mario Lawes, Freie Universität Berlin | December 2022 |
| Connair Russell, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | December 2022 |
| Sarah Polk, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | October 2022 |
| Esra Ascigil, University of Michigan | July 2022 |
| Kristi Chin, University of Michigan | June 2022 |
| Dominic Kelly, University of Michigan | June 2022 |
| Anna Karlsson, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | May 2022 |
| Julia Sander, DIW Berlin | April 2022 |
| Poortata Lalwani, University of Michigan | February 2022 |
| Felix Molter, Freie Universität Berlin | February 2022 |
2021 |
Defense Date |
| Carla Eising, University of Zurich | September 2021 |
| Elisa Weber, University of Zurich | July 2021 |
| Karola Schlegelmilch, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | June 2021 |
| Angela Jones, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | June 2021 |
| Julia Brehm, University of Zurich | June 2021 |
| Meltem Yucel, University of Virginia | May 2021 |
| Ebru Ger, University of Zurich | May 2021 |
| Mareike Trauernicht, Freie Universität Berlin | April 2021 |
| Colleen Frank, University of Michigan | April 2021 |
| Tania Bermudez, University of Zurich | April 2021 |
| Lilian Cabrera-Haro, University of Michigan | March 2021 |
| Walter Bierbauer, University of Zurich | January 2021 |
2020 |
Defense Date |
| Tabea Meier, University of Zurich | November 2020 |
| Rasmus Bruckner, Freie Universität Berlin | November 2020 |
| Verena R. Sommer, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | October 2020 |
| Lea Mörsdorf, University of Zurich | August 2020 |
| A. Zarina Kraal, Unversity of Virgina | July 2020 |
| Ira Kurthen, University of Zurich | July 2020 |
| Lena Keller, Universität Potsdam | July 2020 |
| Pia Neuschwander, University of Zurich | May 2020 |
| Sierra Eisen, University of Virginia | April 2020 |
| Jessica Kansky , University of Virginia | April 2020 |
| Caroline Kelsey , University of Virginia | April 2020 |
| Robert Moulder , University of Virginia | April 2020 |
| Jessica Taggart , University of Virginia | April 2020 |
| Alexandra Werntz , University of Virginia | April 2020 |
| Katinka Hardt, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | Feburary 2020 |
| Martin J. Dahl, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | January 2020 |
2019 |
Defense Date |
| Shauna L. Mc Gee, University of Zurich | August 2019 |
| Meghan H. Puglia, University of Virginia | August 2019 |
| Johanna M. Grosse Rueschkamp, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | July 2019 |
| Brian Cardini, University of Zurich | June 2019 |
| Marko Katana, University of Zurich | June 2019 |
| Julia M. Rohrer, German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) | June 2019 |
| Peter Felsman, University of Michigan | May 2019 |
| Paige Safyer, University of Michigan | May 2019 |
| Lauren Tighe, University of Michigan | April 2019 |
| Aleksandra Włodarczyk, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | Feburary 2019 |
| Sara Zocher, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden | Feburary 2019 |
2018 |
Defense Date |
| Anne Böger, Deutsches Zentrum für Altersforschung (DZA) | December 2018 |
| Jessica Oschwald, University of Zurich | December 2018 |
| Oisin Butler, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | November 2018 |
| Dominik Güntensperger, University of Zurich | September 2018 |
| Matthias Keller, University of Zurich | September 2018 |
| Katharina Antognini, University of Zurich | August 2018 |
| Jan Höltge, University of Zurich | August 2018 |
| Tiffany Jantz, University of Michigan | July 2018 |
| Amira Ibrahim, University of Michigan | June 2018 |
| Morgan Jerald, University of Michigan | June 2018 |
| Ziyong Lin, University of Michigan | May 2018 |
| Yasmin Cole-Lewis, University of Michigan | April 2018 |
| Louisa Lorenz, University of Zurich | April 2018 |
| Erin Westgate, University of Virginia | April 2018 |
| Corinna Laube, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | March 2018 |
| Damaris Aschwanden, University of Zurich | March 2018 |
| Sabrina Guye, University of Zurich | March 2018 |
| Aleksander Kocaj, Institute for Educational Quality Improvement (IQB) | March 2018 |
| Stephanie Wermelinger, University of Zurich | March 2018 |
| Elisa Oppermann, Freie Universität Berlin | Feburary 2018 |
| Swantje Müller, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | January 2018 |
2017 |
Defense Date |
| Philipp Gerlach, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | December 2017 |
| Maike M. Kleemeyer, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | November 2017 |
| Charles Driver, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | October 2017 |
| Janne Adolf, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | October 2017 |
| Jessica Carolyn Bühler, University of Zurich | September 2017 |
| Elise Hernandez, University of Michigan | September 2017 |
| Juliane F. Stahl, German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) | September 2017 |
| Claire G. La Fleur, University of Virginia | May 2017 |
| Neil A. Lewis, Jr., University of Michigan | May 2017 |
| Tyler Santander, University of Virginia | May 2017 |
| Erin E. Horn, University of Virginia | April 2017 |
| Maria M. Arredondo, University of Michigan | March 2017 |
2016 |
Defense Date |
| Johanna Drewelies, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | November 2016 |
| Abigail Williams-Butler, University of Michigan | November 2016 |
|
Nina Vogel, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
& German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) |
June 2016 |
| Nina Lisofsky, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | May 2016 |
| Geneva T. Dodson, University of Virgina | May 2016 |
| Steven Othello Roberts, University of Michigan | May 2016 |
| Laura Marie Getz, University of Virginia | April 2016 |
| Anika Karina Josef, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | April 2016 |
| Andreas Küffer, University of Zurich | March 2016 |
2015 |
Defense Date |
| Nicole Haag, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | December 2015 |
| Kathrin Klipker, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | December 2015 |
| Cathleen Bache, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | December 2015 |
| Camilla Rjosk, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | December 2015 |
| Rahel C. Bachem, University of Zurich | October 2015 |
| Julia Binder, University of Zurich | September 2015 |
| Garvin Brod, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | September 2015 |
| Wylie Wan, University of Michigan | July 2015 |
| Milena Barz, Freie Universität Berlin | June 2015 |
| Lauren Ann Reed, University of Michigan | May 2015 |
| Julia Freund, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden | April 2015 |
| Thomas Talhelm, University of Virgina | April 2015 |
| William Chopik, University of Michigan | March 2015 |
2014 |
Defense Date |
| Stefan Schipolowski, IQB, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | November 2014 |
| Anita Kottwitz, German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) | October 2014 |
| Sarah Hirsiger, University of Zurich | September 2014 |
| Katharina Rufener, University of Zurich | September 2014 |
| Riana Elyse Anderson, University of Virgina | June 2014 |
| Christopher R. Beam, University of Virginia | June 2014 |
| Maryam Gholami, Freie Universität Berlin | June 2014 |
| Lynn Ossher, University of Michigan | June 2014 |
| Xingyu Pan, University of Michigan | June 2014 |
| Elisabeth Wenger, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | June 2014 |
| Anja Schultze-Krumbholz, Freie Universität Berlin | April 2014 |
| Eric D. Smith, University of Virginia | April 2014 |
| Fidan Gasimova, University of Ulm | February 2014 |
| Kate Ryan Kuhlman, University of Michigan | February 2014 |
| Kathrin Schaffhuser, University of Zurich | January 2014 |
2013 |
Defense Date |
| Kathrin Krause, University of Zurich | October 2013 |
| Tanja Gerlach, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | September 2013 |
| Felicity Miao, University of Virginia | August 2013 |
| Anne K. Reitz, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | July 2013 |
| Eeva Elliott, Freie Universität Berlin | July 2013 |
| Johanna Sänger, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | June 2013 |
|
Nicolas Schuck, Max Planck Institute for Human Development
& Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin |
June 2013 |
|
Bettina Sonnenberg, German Institute for
Economic Research (DIW Berlin) |
May 2013 |
| Jeffrey R. Spies, University of Virginia | May 2013 |
| Maria Ines Susperreguy, University of Michigan | May 2013 |
| Alvin Thomas, University of Michigan | March 2013 |
| Miriam K. Depping, University of Zurich | February 2013 |
2012 |
Defense Date |
| Roos Hutteman, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | December 2012 |
| Goran Papenberg, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | December 2012 |
| Dalit Jaeckel, LIFE Zurich, University of Basel | November 2012 |
| Michael Dufner, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | October 2012 |
| Sonja Fankhauser, University of Zurich | September 2012 |
| Florentina Mattli, University of Zurich | September 2012 |
| Ashley Hazel, University of Michigan | August 2012 |
| Julie Maslowsky, University of Michigan | August 2012 |
| Jessica A. Bernard, University of Michigan | July 2012 |
| Yana Fandakova, Max Planck Institute for Human Development | May 2012 |
| Jesse Pappas, University of Michigan | March 2012 |
| Simone Schaub, University of Zurich | March 2012 |
| Reinhard Drobetz, University of Zurich | March 2012 |
| Maida Mustafic, University of Zurich | March 2012 |
| Barbara Preschl, University of Zurich | March 2012 |
| Daniel Ewon Choe, University of Michigan | February 2012 |
| Igor Grossmann, University of Michigan | January 2012 |
| Imke Kirste, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden | January 2012 |