Petra Bendel

Prof. Dr. Petra Bendel is Professor of Political Science at the Institute of Political Science at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, where she heads the Research on Migration, Displacement and Integration. With over 30 years of academic and professional experience, she has established herself as a leading expert in migration, refugee policy, and human rights. She is a founding member of the Center for Human Rights (CHREN) Erlangen-Nuremberg, where she leads multiple research projects and practice-oriented pilot initiatives.

Her research focuses on EU asylum policy, migration governance, refugee integration, and the intersection of migration with human rights. Bendel serves as a policy advisor at various political levels, currently as a member of the Advisory Council for Participation and Integration of the State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia and chairperson of the Advisory Board 'Mobility and Migration' of the Goethe-Institute. She previously chaired the Expert Council for Integration and Migration (2019-2023) and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Federal Office for Migration and Integration (2015-2020).

Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on practical solutions for refugee distribution systems, the mental health impacts of discrimination on migrants, and critical analyses of EU asylum policy reforms. Bendel's work consistently bridges academic research with practical policy implementation, particularly through algorithm-based matching procedures for refugee distribution and studies examining the experiences of migrants in public institutions.

• Bavarian Medal of Europe for services to Bavaria's reputation in Europe
• Medal of Merit of FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg
• Habilitation prize by the Faculty of Philosophy at FAU

Beyond her academic work, Bendel actively engages with policymakers, media, and the public, frequently contributing to national debates on migration policy. Her research projects often involve collaboration with municipalities to develop more effective integration structures, particularly evident in her work on 'Two Worlds? Integration Policy in Urban and Rural Areas.' She has worked across Germany, Austria, Spain, and Latin America, bringing a comparative perspective to her research on democracy, migration, and human rights.