Petra Bendel

Prof. Dr. Petra Bendel is a Professor of Political Science at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), leading the Research Area Migration, Flight, and Integration (MFI) at the Institute of Political Science. She is a founding member of the FAU's Center for Human Rights (CHREN) and has over 30 years of expertise in migration, human rights, and democracy. Her work spans academic research, policy advising, and practical projects across Germany, Austria, Spain, and Latin America. She chairs key advisory bodies such as the Goethe Institute’s Migration and Mobility Board and previously led the Expert Council on Integration and Migration (2019–2023).

Education & Academic Achievements:

• Habilitation on EU asylum policy (FAU, awarded Habilitation Prize)
• PhD from Heidelberg University (parties in Central America)
• Research affiliations: GIGA Institute (Hamburg), Heidelberg University

Research Focus: Migration governance, EU asylum systems, refugee integration, human rights in migration contexts, and policy advising at federal, state, and local levels.

Key Contributions:

• Over 100 publications (books, journal articles, policy papers)
• Co-founder of the Erlanger Migrations- und Integrationsstudien (EMIS) series
• Lead projects on municipal integration strategies, refugee distribution algorithms, and labor market inclusion

Awards & Recognition:

• Bavarian European Medal (2020)
• FAU Medal of Merit (2020)
• Recipient of Habilitation Award (Philosophy Faculty, FAU)

Grants & Funding:

• Funding from German Research Foundation (DFG), EU Horizon 2020, and foundations
• Pilot projects on skills partnerships for migrant healthcare workers

Labs/Teams:

Leads the MFI research group and collaborates with the CHREN, German Federal Office for Migration and Integration (BAMF), and international networks like the European University Institute.