About Me
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg, holding a Master’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Psychology from Goethe University Frankfurt. In 2024, I obtained my PhD from Goethe University Frankfurt with the dissertation “Model Selection and Estimation of Statistical Power in Nonlinear Structural Equation Modeling.” For this work, I received the Best Dissertation Award of the Natural Sciences (2025) from Goethe University as well as the Gustav A. Lienert Award of the Methods and Evaluation Division of the German Psychological Society (DGPs) for 2023–2025.
My research advances statistical methodology for psychology and the behavioral sciences, at the intersection of statistics, psychometrics, data science, and econometrics. I cover the full development cycle of statistical methods: mathematical derivation, evaluation in large-scale simulation studies, implementation in open-source R software, and transfer into applied research and teaching. My work focuses on longitudinal and dynamic modeling (including continuous-time and panel models), structural equation and network models, causal inference from observational data, and simulation-based power analysis and sample size planning. Methodologically, I specialize in simulation-based and machine learning approaches, which I combine with classical multivariate and nonparametric methods, for example to automate study planning or to control confounding in high-dimensional, hierarchical data. I also work on agentic AI and AI-supported research workflows, for example to automate the design, implementation, and documentation of simulation studies, and study how generative AI can be used transparently and verifiably in research, teaching, and statistical consulting. Ultimately, my goal is to provide researchers with tools that make their inferences more reliable and their study designs more efficient, and to enable students to apply and critically evaluate these methods themselves.
I have published in several methodological journals such as Psychometrika and Behavior Research Methods. I was a guest editor at Behavior Research Methods for the Special Issue Methodological Challenges of Complex Latent Mediator and Moderator Models.
I have authored and contributed to several R packages. Most prominently powerNLSEM, which automates simulation-based power analysis for nonlinear structural equation modeling (NLSEM) and was a core part of my dissertation project. Other R packages include ipcr, mvDFA and ezCutoffs.
These tools are freely available underlining my commitment to open science and to providing the research community with sustainable software solutions.
I am committed to educating young researchers about the critical and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
I have taught more than 20 courses as lecturer and student assistant for psychologists, clinical psychologists, mathematicians, statisticians, biologists and environmental scientists, supervised over 8 Bachelor’s and Master’s theses, and conducted more than 50 statistical consultations for scientists from students to full professors as well as industry researchers.
I have authored more than 48 blog-type tutorials on conducting statistical analyses in R on PandaR, making advanced methods accessible to a broad audience.
Through this work I have gained substantial experience in designing and delivering lectures, seminars, and workshops, in mentoring students, and in interdisciplinary teaching. I make use of modern, interactive teaching approaches to actively engage students and foster critical thinking.
I am one of two young researcher representatives of the Methods and Evaluation Division (Fachgruppe für Methoden und Evaluation) of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie (DGPS).
In this role, I help shape the methodological agenda of the discipline, represent early-career researchers at the national level, and lead initiatives such as conferences, workshops, and networking events that strengthen the visibility and collaboration of the next generation of scholars.
Find out more about my publications, talks, workshops, software packages, and honorary work – check out my CV.