Postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of Geography, University of Cologne in Germany, worked previously for the German Advisory Council on Global Change to the Federal Government (WBGU). My main research interest is on urban development processes in the Global South (esp. India and South East Asia) and more recently also in the Global North with specific focus on urban governance, urban sustainability and urban health. I have built up expertise in these fields through different research projects, teaching activities and policy advice. My methodological focus is on mixed-methods-approaches (e.g. household surveys, participatory urban appraisals and expert and layperson interviews) with a strong interest in transformative research.