Sabine Zinn

Sabine Zinn serves as Director of the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) at DIW Berlin since 2022 and holds a W3 Professorship in Social Science Methods at Humboldt University of Berlin since 2020. She leads one of Germany's most significant longitudinal social surveys while advancing computational methodologies at the university. Her dual roles bridge academic research with policy-relevant social analysis through DIW Berlin's institutional framework.

Zinn's academic journey includes:

• Doctorate in Modeling and Simulation (2011) from University of Rostock's Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Habilitation in Survey Statistics and Demography (2019) from University of Bamberg
• Studies in Business Mathematics at University of Jena

Her research centers on computational social science with emphases on survey methodology, data science, and demographic analysis. She investigates migration flows, educational trajectories, and health outcomes using advanced statistical techniques including Bayesian modeling and microsimulation. Her work on nonresponse mechanisms in longitudinal surveys has established new methodological standards for population studies.

Recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate her focus on refugee survey methodology, nonprobability sampling validation, and microsimulation applications. She has pioneered innovative approaches for studying Ukrainian refugees in Germany through the IAB-BAMF-SOEP project, developing specialized sampling frameworks and weighting techniques that address hard-to-reach populations. Her article trends reveal consistent integration of machine learning with traditional survey methods.

Zinn directs substantial research funding through DIW Berlin projects including ENTAILab and the German Social Cohesion Panel. She serves on multiple national and international advisory boards influencing survey methodology standards, though no formal student advisement is documented. Her leadership in projects like the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees demonstrates significant grant management capacity.

As SOEP Director, Zinn oversees Germany's premier household panel study infrastructure. She leads the ENTAILab research innovation lab and contributes to the RKI Panel's methodological development. Her teams specialize in cutting-edge data collection techniques including video-interviewing integration and respondent-driven sampling to enhance population diversity in surveys, particularly for migration research contexts.