Stefanie Müller

Stefanie Müller is a Senior Research Associate at the Lucerne School of Social Work, affiliated with the Institute for Sociocultural Development at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Her research focuses on sustainable development, participatory processes, and spatial analysis, particularly in the context of renewable energy planning and conflict management. She holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Zurich (2022), alongside advanced degrees in geography, teaching, and mediation.

Education:

• CAS Peace Mediation & Dialogue (Swisspeace/University of Basel, 2024–ongoing)
• Doctorate in Geography (University of Zurich, 2022)
• Teaching Diploma for Upper Secondary Education (University of Zurich, 2015)
• MSc in Geography (University of Zurich/ETH Zurich/University of Agricultural Sciences, 2015)
• BSc in Geography (University of Zurich/ETH Zurich, 2012)

Research Interests:

• Sustainable Development
• Participatory Methods
• Regional Energy Planning
• Conflict Management
• Spatial and Social Equity
• GIS/PPGIS Applications

Her recent publications emphasize participatory tools for energy transition governance, spatial justice in renewable energy siting, and agonistic democracy frameworks. Projects include leading the SWEET Lantern initiative (WP8) and the KlimaCoLab project, leveraging AI-driven urban design and augmented reality for inclusive planning. She has advised on energy cooperatives and municipal networking through INNOSUISSE initiatives.

Grants & Projects:

• SwissSTES PIT/CC-TES
• Hydrogen Fuelled Cooking Stoves for Nepal
• Augmented Planning: Enabling Broader Participation
• IDN – Social Business Model HyHEG

Her work bridges academia and practice through transdisciplinary collaborations, including engagements with NGOs (e.g., Engineers Without Borders) and governmental bodies (e.g., City of Bern’s Social Space Analysis).