Timo Ehmke

Prof. Dr. Timo Ehmke is Full Professor and holder of the Professorship for Educational Research, in particular Empirical Educational Sciences at Leuphana University of Lüneburg. He leads an extensive research program centered on empirical educational science, teacher education, assessment, and mathematics education.

Research Interests

• Design and evaluation of evidence-based teacher-training programs, especially in mathematics
• Adaptive learning support and competency-oriented instruction
• Impact of linguistic complexity on student performance in realistic mathematical tasks
• Assessment instruments for inclusive subject teaching and second-language learners
• Large-scale educational studies (TIMSS, NEPS) and comparative measurement of competencies

Research Output & Impact

Across 183 peer-reviewed publications, Prof. Ehmke’s work reveals a consistent focus on translating empirical findings into practical tools for teachers. His recent articles explore how linguistic demands affect mathematical problem-solving and how adaptive instructional strategies can close achievement gaps. The research integrates psychometrics, educational psychology, and subject-didactics to inform both policy and classroom practice.

Awards & Distinctions

• Leuphana Transfer Award 2023 – Recognised for outstanding knowledge transfer from research to educational practice.

Projects & Funding

Prof. Ehmke has coordinated or co-coordinated 17 major projects since 2011, securing funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the German Research Foundation (DFG). Flagship initiatives include:

• LERN-IF (2021-2026): Learning-process diagnostics and feedback in inclusive subject teaching (BMBF)
• Effects and Interaction of Linguistic and Subject-Specific Requirements (2019-2023, DFG)
• Boundary-Crossing II: Transdisciplinary evaluation framework for teacher-education collaborations (BMBF)
• Leuphana Teacher Training 2020: Concept development for future-oriented teacher education (BMBF)
• DaZKom-Video: Performance-oriented assessment of German-as-a-second-language competency among pre-service teachers (BMBF)

Laboratories & Teams

He heads an active research team embedded within Leuphana’s research focus on education and participates in university-wide teacher-education networks, fostering collaboration between educational researchers, subject didacticians, and school practitioners.