students
Information for prospective Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD students seeking research supervision.
Are you passionate about psychological science, human movement, and performance under pressure? I regularly supervise high-quality Bachelor's (BA), Master's (MA), and Doctoral (PhD) theses. Whether you want to collect empirical video data, conduct thin-slice experiments, or apply advanced behavioral analysis, explore the research pathways below.
Primary Thesis Topic: Nonverbal Behavior, Emotion & Social Perception
The primary focus for student supervision revolves around Nonverbal Behavior, Emotion & Social Perception in High-Pressure Sports. How do athletes communicate confidence or anxiety without saying a word? Can an opponent or referee decode hidden emotional states from a split-second movement?
If you write your thesis in this strand, you will get hands-on experience with cutting-edge psychological and motion analysis techniques. Typical project areas include:
- Thin-Slice Methodology: Testing how observers form rapid impressions of success, dominance, or ego depletion from brief video clips.
- Facial Action Coding System (FACS): Analyzing micro-expressions of pride, shame, and emotional suppression in high-stakes competition.
- 3D Pose & Motion Analysis: Decoding subtle postural indicators and biomechanical markers of performance anxiety.
- Applied Decision-Making: Investigating nonverbal interactions between penalty takers and goalkeepers, players and referees, or coaches and athletes across sports like soccer, tennis, basketball, and darts.
Ideal candidates for this strand should have a keen interest in experimental design, quantitative statistical analysis, and behavioral observation.
Alternative BA & MA Thesis Options
While nonverbal behavior is our primary supervision line, I occasionally accept exceptional Bachelor's and Master's students for alternative project formats:
- Broader Research Strands: Selected topics in executive functions, match analysis, evolutionary sports psychology, or surf science.
- Self-Chosen Topics & Applied PE Research: Have a specific idea? I welcome self-proposed projects—particularly applied empirical topics relevant to prospective Physical Education (PE / Lehramt) teachers and school sports.
Prospective PhD Candidates
I welcome inquiries from highly qualified prospective doctoral students looking to conduct cutting-edge PhD research. Doctoral projects are embedded exclusively within our primary research strand:
Focus: Nonverbal Behavior, Emotional Expression & Social Perception in Competitive Environments.
Please note that fully funded internal PhD positions are limited. Prospective doctoral candidates must secure third-party or external funding (e.g., individual doctoral scholarships from the DFG, DAAD, national foundation grants, or international research fellowships). I am happy to support exceptional candidates with strong academic records in preparing scholarship applications or grant proposals.
How to Inquire & Apply
If you are interested in pursuing a thesis or PhD research under my supervision, please send a concise inquiry including your research interests, current transcript, and CV.