Photos: «Meet the researcher» on October 2nd with Antonia, Anna, and Jörg
In an informal session (accompanied by delicious sandwiches), Antonia, Anna, and Jörg introduced themselves and shared reflections on the past, present and future of their research.
Jörg Rössel:
Prof. Dr. Jörg Rössel retraced his academic journey – from his early studies in sociology and history in Leipzig to a long-standing fullprofessorship in Zurich.
He emphasized the importance of mentorship, opportunities, and luck for a successful career, and highlighted how his early interest in popular topics such as social structure and lifestyles contributed to his visibility. His current research includes economic sociology, migration, assisted reproduction, and cultural policy, often employing mixed-methods approaches and theory-driven methodology.
Looking ahead, he plans to explore topics such as trust in science, inequality in sports, and nuanced aspects of migration and discrimination – with the goal of writing a book that makes sociological theory accessible to empirically interested readers.
Anna Mann:
Dr. Anna Mann presented insights from her Ambizione project (Im-)possibilities of Letting Life End. An ethnography of transformations in medical practice, which investigates how non-life-prolonging care is made possible in medical practice with case studies from pediatrics to geriatrics.
Based on fieldwork in a Swiss children's hospital, she is currently developing four academic papers: one on how powerful medical actors intentionally weaken their curative agendas; another on the role of mundane technologies in delaying the integration of palliative care; a third reflecting on emotional responses during research through the lens of being a clown; and a fourth on physicians as health activists.
In the future, she plans to explore how healthcare professionals respond to systemic staff shortages. Last but not least, she shared her creative alter ego: a clown-researcher named WannaWonder, through whom she embodies the emotional and performative dimensions of academic life.
Antonia (Toni) Velicu:
Dr. Antonia Velicu reflected on her academic journey from law to sociology, driven by a fascination with norms and deviance. In her doctoral dissertation, she examined scientific misconduct and intersectional inequality in academia – a fusion of her two passions: understanding nonconformity and structural inequalities.
Currently, she is working on projects about consensual non-monogamy and the career trajectories of PhD holders, aiming to identify patterns in who remains in academia and why.
Deeply committed to creative teaching and science communication, she has embraced video storytelling and social media to make sociology more accessible. Her work bridges rigorous research with playful engagement: challenging academic conventions while strengthening public trust in science.
Next installment: November 5th, 2025
«Meet the researcher» with Nico Mutzner, Matthias Klingler and Prof. Dr. Marco Giesselmann
05.11.2025, 13:00-14:00
AND 4.55-457 (4th floor)
Snacks and dessert will be provided!
Weiterführende Informationen
LinkedIn Instagram Bluesky Mail