Nadja Waibel

Nadja Waibel is a Researcher at the Pastoral Theology department within the Faculty of Catholic Theology at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (since November 2023). Her work bridges empirical theology with practical applications in pastoral care, focusing on women's roles in the church, spiritual resilience, and faith biographies.

• Education: Theology, Psychology, and Jewish Studies in Zurich, Fribourg, and Lucerne; PhD in Theology (2022) at Theologische Fakultät Luzern.
• Work Experience: Youth chaplain in Swiss parishes; caregiver for dementia patients.

Research Themes

• Theology from the Margins: Centering voices of the oppressed within church structures.
• Resilience and Spirituality: Linking trauma recovery with spiritual resources.
• Women and the Church: Analyzing gender inequality in leadership roles.
• Contextual Theology: Grounding practical theology in lived experiences.

Key Publication Trends

Her work emphasizes empirical methods (biographical interviews, qualitative studies) to explore intersections of mental health, ritual practices, and gender dynamics in pastoral contexts. Recent articles address stillbirth support, addiction recovery, and child protection through theological lenses.

Labs & Collaborations

She contributes to the Center for Applied Pastoral Research (ZAP) at RUB, focusing on emergency pastoral care and contextual theology projects.