Kärin Nickelsen

Kärin Nickelsen serves as Full Professor (W3 Chair) in History of Science at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich's Department of History since 2011, following progressive appointments as Associate and Assistant Professor at University of Bern (2002-2011). Her scholarly profile integrates historical analysis with philosophical inquiry across biological sciences, emphasizing collaborative knowledge production and methodological frameworks within scientific communities.

Education:

• Ph.D. in History & Philosophy of Science, University of Bern (2002, summa cum laude)
• Diploma in Biology, University of Göttingen (1999, with distinction; Botany, Microbiology, History of Science)

Research Focus: Professor Nickelsen's work critically examines the epistemological foundations of biological research through historical case studies, particularly investigating how experimental practices, visual representations, and institutional contexts shape scientific understanding. Her scholarship reveals intricate connections between theoretical frameworks and material practices in fields ranging from photosynthesis research to space life-support systems, with special attention to socio-political influences on scientific development during periods like the Nazi era.

Publication Analysis: Her 15-year publication trajectory demonstrates deepening engagement with 20th-century biological sciences, evolving from foundational studies of botanical illustration to complex analyses of photosynthesis controversies and space technology history. A unifying thread involves tracing knowledge transfer across disciplinary boundaries while examining how scientific collectives generate and validate knowledge under varying historical constraints.

Honors:

• Member of Bavarian Academy of Sciences (2020)
• Leopoldina Academy Committee for Life Sciences (2019)
• Dalberg Award for transdisciplinary research (2010)
• Caspar Friedrich Wolff Medal (2010)
• Wilhelm Dettmering Award for Young Scholars (2002)

Academic Leadership: As Co-opted Member of LMU's Centre for Advanced Study (2017) and active participant in international committees, Nickelsen facilitates cross-disciplinary research initiatives while mentoring emerging scholars through her departmental leadership role. Her collaborative projects with institutions like Max Planck Institute demonstrate sustained engagement with experimental history of science methodologies.