Jeanine Grütter

Prof. Jeanine Grütter is a developmental psychologist and professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich), leading the Social Development and Social Change Lab. Her research focuses on social, moral, and emotional development in children and adolescents, with an emphasis on inclusive education, classroom dynamics, and interventions to reduce social exclusion. She holds a doctorate in Psychology from the University of Zurich (summa cum laude) and has held academic positions at the University of Konstanz, University of Zurich, and University of Fribourg. Her work spans diverse contexts, including Nepal and Switzerland, and integrates digital tools like virtual reality for educational interventions. Grütter has received prestigious awards, including the Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship and LEAP Fellowship, and contributes to policy and teacher training initiatives to promote social inclusion.

Education:

• PhD in Psychology (summa cum laude), University of Zurich (2013–2016)
• M.Sc. Psychology, University of Zurich (2011–2012)

Research Interests:

• Impact of classroom norms on peer inclusion
• Effects of socioeconomic diversity on youth attitudes
• Role of digital technologies (VR, anti-bias robots) in fostering social skills
• Civic engagement and resilience in adolescents
• Mitigation of bullying and social exclusion in schools

Recent Article Trends:

Her publications emphasize empirical studies on inclusive education strategies, cross-group friendships as tools for reducing bias, and the psychological impacts of systemic inequalities. Recent work explores how classroom norms shape peer acceptance of children with learning difficulties and the role of teacher beliefs in promoting equity.

Awards:

• LEAP Fellow (MIT Solve/Jacobs Foundation), 2023–2024
• Jacobs Foundation Research Fellow, 2022–2025
• Emerging Scholar of the Month, Society for Research on Adolescence, 2020

Advising & Grants:

Grütter has supervised numerous research projects and collaborates internationally. Her work is funded by Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) fellowships and the Jacobs Foundation. She is also advancing teacher training programs using app-based tools for social interaction analysis in classrooms.

Labs/Teams:

Leads the Social Development and Social Change Lab at LMU, focusing on innovative interventions for schools and cross-cultural research initiatives in Nepal and Switzerland.