Tanja Maier

PD Dr. Tanja Maier is the Acting Professor for Communication and Media Studies and Director of the Institute for Media Research at the University of Rostock since April 2023 and April 2025, respectively. She holds a habilitation from the Free University of Berlin (2017) and has held academic positions at institutions including the Free University of Berlin, University of Bremen, Leuphana University Lüneburg, and University of Siegen.

• Education: Doctorate in Cultural Studies (Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 2005), Postgraduate course in Cultural Studies and Gender Studies (1999–2004), Social Sciences degree (University of Applied Sciences Bremen, 1994–1999)

Research Focus:

• Visual communication and media culture
• Intersections of social media and politics
• Image and media change in the digital age
• Gender Media Studies
• Migration representations in journalism
• Religious imagery in visual media

Scientific Awards & Grants:

• State Graduate Fund of Lower Saxony Doctoral Scholarship (2002–2004)
• DFG-funded project leadership (2013–2015)
• Bertelsmann Foundation-funded research (2015–2016)

Academic Leadership:

• Director of the Institute for Media Research (2025–present)
• Project management roles in multidisciplinary initiatives like the SFB "Affective Societies" (2016–2017)