Nihad El-Kayed

Dr. Nihad El-Kayed is a Research Associate at the Berlin Institute for Empirical Integration and Migration Research (BIM) at Humboldt University of Berlin. She serves as Head of the DeZIM cooperation project "Political (In)Equality in Post-Migrant Democracy" (PoMigDem), funded by the BMFSFJ, and holds editorial roles at BIM publication series and sub\urban: Journal for Critical Urban Studies. As Internationalization Officer and spokesperson for BIM's SpaceMig cluster, she bridges academic research with policy and public engagement.

• Ph.D. in Sociology (summa cum laude), Humboldt University of Berlin (2018)
• M.A. in Sociology, University of Bielefeld (2011)
• B.A. in Social Sciences, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf (2008)

Her research focuses on social and political inequality, citizenship, urban migration dynamics, and social boundary processes. Articles show expertise in migrant political participation, arrival neighborhoods, and urban integration infrastructure, with mixed-method approaches applied across Germany.

Recent publications explore refugee housing in peripheral estates, urban citizenship frameworks, and decentralized urban frequencies. Her work spans peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes in multiple languages, emphasizing super-diverse communities and local governance.

• Hartmut-Häußermann-Preis Soziale Stadt (2021)
• Dissertation Prize of German Sociological Association (2019)
• ProFiL Fellowship for Women in Research (2021/22)
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Scholar (2012-2015)

She leads projects like StadtumMig II (BMBF-funded) and Dezentrale Frequenzen (bpb-funded), while contributing to DGS sociology section leadership. Current work examines political participation in immigrant neighborhoods and urban infrastructure for newcomers.