Stefan Rieger

Professor Stefan Rieger serves as a faculty member at Ruhr University Bochum's Institute of Media Studies, where he holds the academic rank of Professor. He actively leads and participates in multiple high-impact research projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), including the Collaborative Research Center SFB 1567: Virtual Living Environments as principal speaker and the Heisenberg Fellowship project on Modern German Literature.

His research expertise spans Media Studies with particular focus on virtual embodiment, animal studies, anthropological discourses of modernity, and documentary theory. Current projects examine the epistemology of virtual bodies, the 'Animal Turn' in media analysis, and the relationship between public relations and empirical evidence. His methodological approach integrates media theory with cultural anthropology and literary studies.

• SFB 1567: Virtual Living Environments (Collaborative Research Center)
• GRK 2132: The Documentary: Excess and Withdrawal (Graduate School)
• Virtual Bodies: Towards an Epistemology of Embodiment (Sub-project)

Professor Rieger has received the prestigious Heisenberg Fellowship, recognizing his outstanding contributions to media scholarship. His research portfolio demonstrates sustained excellence in securing competitive DFG funding across multiple program lines including Collaborative Research Centers, Graduate Schools, and individual grants.

He maintains active leadership roles in major research consortia, directing both specialized sub-projects and central administrative coordination for large-scale initiatives. His work bridges theoretical media analysis with practical applications in virtual environment design and documentary production methodologies.