Dr. Verena Seibel

Verena Seibel is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and member of the European Research Center on Migration and Ethnic Relations (ERCOMER) at Utrecht University. She previously hold a position as an Assistant Professor at the University of Groningen and was a Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Konstanz, Germany. Before that Verena completed her PhD at the Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin.

Verena is interested in the processes of migrants' adaptation to the host society. Currently, she focuses on migrants’ knowledge about their social rights and welfare institutions (such as healthcare, childcare, but also labor markets) within host societies and how this relates to their integration chances. In this context, she is also interested in the role of social networks in knowledge transmission. Next to her research, Verena values teaching very much. Transmitting knowledge to her students in an accessible way is one of her primary goals. 

How can we support migrants to navigate through host countries’ institutions?

During her time at UYA, Verena wants to focus on smoothen the transition for international staff coming to UU from abroad. Being an international herself, she is aware of challenges foreign colleagues are facing, particularly within the first months. By improving the transfer of relevant information about Dutch Academica, but also about UU specific programs itself, Verena hopes to be part of the support network of our international colleagues. 

Verena Seibel has been a member of the Utrecht Young Academy, a bridge between young and talented researchers, since 2023.