Maria Schiller

Maria Schiller is Associate Professor of Public Policy, Migration and Diversity at Erasmus University Rotterdam, affiliated with the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences and the Department of Policy, Politics and Society. Her research focuses on the governance of migration and diversity in urban and national contexts across Europe.

• PhD in Migration Studies, University of Kent (2014)
• Former Senior Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity
• Former Substitute Assistant Professor, University of Tübingen
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow, University of Vienna
• Visiting Lecturer, University of Kent

Maria Schiller’s research explores the institutional, political, and social dimensions of migration governance. Her work emphasizes the role of civil society, public officials, and private actors in shaping integration policies, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands. She investigates how urban governance structures, such as immigrant councils and planning agencies, mediate inclusion and exclusion. Her studies often employ comparative and qualitative methods, focusing on the interplay between symbolic and substantive policy outcomes.

Her recent publications reflect a strong trend in urban migration policy, network governance, and the politics of diversity. Articles analyze brokerage in inclusion networks, the design of participatory institutions, and the framing of integration in regional policymaking. The research spans disciplines including political science, sociology, urban planning, and public administration.

Maria Schiller has organized academic events such as the (Re)mapping Rotterdam Forum and the workshop 'Societal impact after the hype: Unpacking experiences in diversity and inclusion research'. She hosts visiting scholars, including Maxime Felder (2022–2030), indicating ongoing collaborative research. While specific grants are not listed, her Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship indicates prior competitive funding. She is active in knowledge dissemination through datasets and public engagement.

She contributes to interdisciplinary research teams focused on diversity, inclusion, and urban governance. Her collaborative projects involve scholars from multiple institutions and countries, particularly in France and Germany, as seen in her dataset on local actors’ views on socio-cultural heterogeneity.