Michelle Geiter, M.A.
Research focus
- Renewable Energy Conflicts
- Rural Transformation Processes
- Environmental Justice
- Political Ecology
Current projects
In my doctoral project "Wind Energy Conflicts in Rural Areas – Conflict Biographies, Perceptions of Justice, and their Political Instrumentalization," I investigate how local conflicts around wind energy emerge, unfold, and escalate – and what role perceptions of justice play in this process.
The focus lies on three interconnected questions: the reconstruction of conflict biographies and escalation dynamics, the role of justice perceptions in the course of conflict, and their instrumentalization by political actors.
The research design is qualitative-comparative and encompasses four rural study regions with varying spatial-structural conditions in Germany.
The doctoral project is carried out within the doctoral college "Justice dimensions of sustainability-oriented transformation processes in rural areas," funded by the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung.
Background
Since 06/2026: Doctoral Researcher, Geography, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Since 06/2026: Scholarship Holder, Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Doctoral College Justice dimensions of sustainability-oriented transformation processes in rural areas, University of Vechta
Since 01/2025: Research Associate in the Project Region im Wandel, Professorship for Sustainability and Societal Transformation, Institute of Economics, Hochschule für Gesellschaftsgestaltung, Koblenz
10/2023–08/2024: Certificate, Gender Studies, University of Koblenz
07/2022–12/2024: Research Assistant, Professorship for Sustainability and Societal Transformation, Institute of Economics, Hochschule für Gesellschaftsgestaltung, Koblenz
10/2021–12/2024: M.A. Economics – Sustainability – Societal Transformation, Hochschule für Gesellschaftsgestaltung, Koblenz
09/2021–07/2022: Research Assistant, Chair of Global Change and Systemic Risks, Institute for Food and Resource Economics, University of Bonn
09/2018–08/2019, 02/2020–12/2020: Student Assistant, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, Schmalenbach School of Business and Economics, Technische Hochschule Köln, Cologne
10/2017–03/2021: B.Sc. International Business, Technische Hochschule Köln, Cologne (incl. Exchange Semester at IPAG, France, 09–12/2019)