Our Team
The PINA team sees itself as an interdisciplinary center of expertise in early childhood education research, with a range of thematic focuses. We welcome additional researchers who would like to get involved and join PINA! The current team consists of:
Prof. Dr. Gerlind Große
Professor of Early Childhood Education Research at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
Gerlind Große is a Research Professor of Early Childhood Education Research at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences and heads the PINA Research Laboratory. Her research focuses on children’s cognitive, linguistic, and social-emotional development, the quality of pedagogical interactions, and the transfer of scientific findings into early childhood education practice.
Contact: gerlind.grosse@fh-potsdam.de
Prof. Dr. Frauke Hildebrandt
Professor of Early Childhood Education Research at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
Frauke Hildebrandt holds the professorship in Research and Practice Development in Childhood Education at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences and heads the Master’s program in Early Childhood Education Research. Her research focuses in particular on the quality of pedagogical interactions, children’s participation, quality development in early childhood education and care settings, and the development of rational thinking.
Contact: frauke.hildebrandt@fh-potsdam.de
Prof. Dr. Jan Lonnemann
Professor of Empirical Childhood Research at the University of Potsdam
Jan Lonnemann is Professor of Empirical Childhood Research at the University of Potsdam and is involved in research and teaching in the Master’s program in Early Childhood Education Research. His research focuses on the cognitive foundations of learning, particularly the acquisition of mathematical skills and the development of reading and arithmetic abilities.
Contact: lonnemann@uni-potsdam.de
Prof. Dr. Birgit Elsner
Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Potsdam
Birgit Elsner teaches and conducts research at the University of Potsdam on social-cognitive development in early childhood and on the relationships between early language acquisition and the development of non-linguistic cognitive abilities. Another key focus of her research is investigating how difficulties with the regulation of actions and/or emotions, as well as with understanding other people’s mental states (Theory of Mind), can negatively affect development during primary school age. Particular attention is paid to the occurrence of aggressive behavior and eating- and weight-related problems. Together with Prof. Dr. Barbara Höhle, Prof. Dr. Elsner heads the BabyLab at the University of Potsdam.
Contact: birgit.elsner@uni-potsdam.de
Dr. Caroline Wronski
Academic Staff Member at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
Caroline Wronski is an academic staff member in the Master’s program in Early Childhood Education Research at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences and works at the intersection of research and educational practice. Her main areas of focus are children’s cognitive development and the investigation and further development of pedagogical interactions.
Contact: caroline.wronski@fh-potsdam.de
Dr. Karoline Lohse
Academic Staff Member at the University of Potsdam
Karoline Lohse is a research associate in Empirical Childhood Research at the University of Potsdam and teaches in the Master’s program in Early Childhood Education Research. Her research focuses on the development of temporal concepts in childhood and the influence of social interactions on children’s learning processes.
Contact: karoline.lohse@uni-potsdam.de
Collaborations
Dr. Jasmin Bempreiksz-Luthardt
Research Associate and Head of the Berlin Office at the International Center for Professionalization in Early Childhood Education (PEP)
Jasmin Bempreiksz-Luthardt was a research associate at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences, where she conducted her doctoral research as part of EQUIP subproject 2a, focusing on transforming early childhood educators’ attitudes in early childhood education and care settings. Her research interests include innovation processes in educational institutions, the quality of pedagogical processes in early childhood education, and science communication. She currently works as a research associate and heads the Berlin office of the International Center for Professionalization in Early Childhood Education (PEP).
Contact: jasmin.luthardt@zentrum-pep.de
Stephan Engler
Doctoral Researcher at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
Stephan Engler is a research associate and doctoral researcher in the SocialGestures research project at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences, supervised by Prof. Dr. Gerlind Große. His research examines how gestures and linguistic and cultural characteristics influence the social preferences and learning processes of infants and young children, and how these factors shape their choice of social interaction and learning partners.
Contact: stephan.engler@fh-potsdam.de
Dr. Ramiro Glauer
Managing Director of the Center for Empirical Educational Research in Lower Saxony (ZEB)
Ramiro Glauer is the Managing Director of the Center for Empirical Educational Research in Lower Saxony (ZEB), a joint research institution of Leuphana University Lüneburg and Leibniz University Hannover. Previously, he conducted research at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences on cognitive development in early childhood. His research interests include understanding objects and perspectives, as well as language development. He also develops practical resources and formats that support early childhood education professionals in fostering cognitively stimulating interactions with children.
Contact: ramiro.glauer@leuphana.de
Annika Hänsch
Research Associate at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
Annika Hänsch is a research associate in the PIPS project (“Participation in Care and Sleep Routines”) at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences. The project investigates how children’s participation in everyday care and sleep routines in nurseries can be facilitated and supported through pedagogical interactions.
Contact: annika.haensch@fh-potsdam.de
Alice Hildebrandt
Doctoral Researcher at the University of Potsdam and Research Associate and Advisor at the Institute for the Situational Approach (ISTA)
Alice Hildebrandt is pursuing a doctorate in early childhood education at the University of Potsdam and works as a research associate and advisor at the Institute for the Situational Approach (ISTA). She also teaches at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences on topics related to early childhood education and qualitative research methods.
Her research focuses on children’s agency and autonomy, the significance of pedagogical interactions, and the exploration of children’s perspectives. Child protection is another key focus of her academic and educational work.
Contact: hildebrandt@situationsansatz.de
Dr. Gregor Kachel
Postdoctoral Researcher in Developmental Psychology at Leuphana University Lüneburg
Gregor Kachel is a postdoctoral researcher in developmental psychology at Leuphana University Lüneburg, working in the fields of developmental and educational psychology. His research focuses on gestural and graphic communication.
Contact: gregor.kachel@leuphana.de
Prof. Dr. Karsten Krauskopf
Professor of Psychology in Social Work and Vice President for Research and Knowledge Transfer at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
Karsten Krauskopf is Professor of Psychology in Social Work at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences and serves as Vice President for Research and Knowledge Transfer since October 2026. His research focuses on multiprofessional collaboration, the social and emotional competencies of early childhood education professionals, and the professionalization and inclusive design of educational practice.
Contact: karsten.krauskopf@fh-potsdam.de
Dr. Nadja Lindner
Research Associate at the University of Potsdam
Nadja Lindner is a research associate in Empirical Childhood Research at the University of Potsdam, working on the German Research Foundation (DFG) project “Concepts of Spatial Relations and the Acquisition of Numerical Knowledge.”
Contact: nlindner@uni-potsdam.de
Dr. Katrin Macha
Director of the Institute for the Situational Approach (ISTA)
Katrin Macha is Director of the Institute for the Situational Approach (ISTA) at Internationale Akademie Berlin gGmbH, where she also heads the Quality Development and Evaluation department. She is responsible for various research and practice development projects, particularly those focusing on gathering children’s perspectives. In addition, she is a Visiting Professor specializing in diversity and participation in childhood at the Catholic University of Applied Social Sciences Berlin.
Contact: macha@situationsansatz.de
Christine Mager
Research Associate at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
Annika Hänsch is a research associate in the PIPS project (“Participation in Care and Sleep Routines”) at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences. The project investigates how children’s participation in everyday care and sleep routines in nurseries can be facilitated and supported through pedagogical interactions.
Contact: christine.mager@fh-potsdam.de
Ruben Maué
Project Coordinator at the Brandenburg State Office for Addiction Issues (BLS) and Research Associate at the Institute for Continuing Education, Research and Development (IFFE e.V.) at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
Ruben Maué works as a project coordinator at the Brandenburg State Office for Addiction Issues (BLS) and as a research associate at the Institute for Continuing Education, Research and Development (IFFE e.V.). Previously, he worked as a research associate and project coordinator on the EQUIP and EDIT projects at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences.
Contact: ruben.maue@blsev.de · ruben.maue@fh-potsdam.de
Hannah Merkel
Research Associate at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
Annika Hänsch is a research associate in the PIPS project (“Participation in Care and Sleep Routines”) at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences. The project investigates how children’s participation in everyday care and sleep routines in nurseries can be facilitated and supported through pedagogical interactions.
Contact: hannah.merkel@fh-potsdam.de
Bianka Pergande
After completing her studies in Berlin and Moscow, Bianka Pergande worked with foundations and children’s rights organizations, including the German Children and Youth Foundation and Save the Children. From 2018 to 2020, she coordinated the study “Children’s Participation in Everyday Life in Early Childhood Education and Care Settings” at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences. Since 2020, she has served as spokesperson for the National Coalition – Network for the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Germany, having joined its board in 2015. From 2021 to 2024, she was Managing Director of the German League for the Child. She played a leading role in the development of Brandenburg’s new educational framework and currently works as a trainer and author.
Romy Schönfeld
Research Associate and Doctoral Researcher at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
Romy Schönfeld is a research associate in the P³Dual project at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences and is pursuing a doctorate in collaboration with the University of Potsdam on the interaction competencies of professionals working in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. Her research focuses on children’s participation, ECEC professionals’ attitudes and role perceptions, and participatory interactions in everyday ECEC practice.
Contact: romy.schoenfeld@fh-potsdam.de
Antonia Simon
Research Associate at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
Antonia Simon is a doctoral researcher at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences, where she studies children’s perspective-taking abilities. She is particularly interested in how spatial and bodily aspects influence the ability to take cognitive and affective perspectives.
Contact: antonia.simon@fh-potsdam.de
Dr. Elena Sixtus
Research Associate at the University of Potsdam
Elena Sixtus is a research associate in empirical childhood research at the University of Potsdam and teaches on the Master’s programme in Early Childhood Education Research. Her research interests include the acquisition of numerical knowledge and the shared mental representation of space, time, and number.
Contact: elena.sixtus@uni-potsdam.de
Former members
Dr. Jannis Bosch
Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Münster
Jannis Bosch holds a professorship in Education, specializing in School Pedagogy and Inclusive Education, at the University of Münster. Previously, he worked as a research associate in the Department of Research Methods and Diagnostics at the University of Potsdam and taught on the Master’s programme in Early Childhood Education Research.
Contact: jbosch@uni-muenster.de
Dr. Juliane Burmester
Head of the German Language Department at the Duden Institute
Juliane Burmester heads the German Language Department at the Duden Institute. Previously, she worked as a research associate on the EQUIP project at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences, where she investigated the influence of cognitively stimulating interactions, particularly elements of sustained shared thinking, on children’s language use.
Contact: juliane.burmester@duden-institute.de
Erika Kaschinski
Research and Development Officer at the Stiftung Kinder forschen Foundation
Erika Kaschinski works as a Research and Development Officer at the Stiftung Kinder forschen Foundation. Her areas of focus include early childhood education for sustainable development and organizational development in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. Previously, she worked as a research associate at the University of Potsdam.
Tina Marusch
Project Officer for Digital Youth Participation at the Brandenburg State Association for Media Education
Tina Marusch works as a Project Officer for Digital Youth Participation at the Brandenburg State Association for Media Education. Previously, she worked as a research associate at the University of Potsdam.
Contact: marusch@medienbildung-brandenburg.de