Christian Wille

Christian Wille is a Senior Researcher at the Department of Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, University of Luxembourg. He leads the UniGR-Center for Border Studies and serves as Deputy Head of the trinational Master in Border Studies. His work bridges research, teaching, outreach, and academic management, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary border studies.

His research interests include Border Studies, Cultural Border Studies, Border Theories, Border Complexities, Cross-Border Cooperation, Migration Studies, Spatial Planning, and Practice Theory. He approaches borders as dynamic, relational, and socially constructed phenomena, emphasizing cultural, spatial, and sociological dimensions. His work integrates cultural studies, geography, sociology, and anthropology, particularly in the context of the Greater Region (SaarLorLux).

His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward complexity thinking in border studies, the sociocultural dimensions of bordering practices, and critical reflections on the institutionalization of border research. His work frequently addresses EU border policies, migration, identity, and the impact of crises like the pandemic on cross-border mobility.

• Interregional Research Award of the Greater Region (2022)
• Summit of the Greater Region Excellent Doctoral Thesis Award 2012 (placed second)
• Individual University Research Grant (2019–2022, 2022–2026)
• Individual partner status at the Viadrina Center B/Orders in Motion

Christian Wille has supervised PhD candidates and served on thesis committees. He has taught at undergraduate and graduate levels in France, Germany, and Luxembourg and designed interdisciplinary master classes. He leads multiple cross-border research projects and has organized numerous conferences and workshops. He is also active in science-policy dialogue, serving on advisory boards and as a reviewer for major funding bodies like DFG, SNSF, and BMBF.

He is a founding member and Co-Spokesperson of the international research group Bordertextures, and co-editor of the book series Border Studies: Cultures, Spaces, Orders. He also coordinates the Forum Greater Region science-policy series and represents the University of the Greater Region in the Transfrontier Euro-Institute Network.