Lea Konrad

Lea Konrad is a Research Fellow, lecturer, and PhD candidate at the Chair of International Integration with a special focus on Eastern Europe at the Institute of Political Science, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany. She is actively engaged in teaching, research, and academic administration.

Educational Background:

• MA in International Studies / Peace and Conflict Studies (Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main), MA thesis: "Speaking different languages on China? Threat perceptions and collective identity in the transatlantic security community – US and German government perspectives"
• BA in Social Sciences (Justus Liebig University Giessen), BA thesis: "China as a challenger? Continuity and Changes in U.S. China Policy from Clinton to Obama from realist perspectives in International Relations"

Research Focus: Her PhD project, supervised by Prof. Dr. Andrea Gawrich, investigates the collective securitisation of cyberspace within NATO, emphasizing threat perceptions, policy adaptations, and the political processes behind NATO’s cybersecurity mandate. She examines transatlantic security relations, cybersecurity governance, and the implications of China’s rise in global politics.

Scientific Awards:

• Scholarship holder of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (2016–2020)

Teaching and Academic Contributions: Lea has taught seminars on international cybersecurity politics, comparative security organizations, and NATO’s role in global crises. She has also contributed to academic conferences and public lectures on NATO’s future, transatlantic security, and U.S. foreign policy implications.