Since 1 April 2022
Vice-Rector for University Culture, Diversity and International Affairs at the University of Duisburg-Essen

2018–2022
Scientific Director of the Essen College of Gender Research (EKfG) at the University of Duisburg-Essen

Since 2017
Faculty Council, International Max Planck Research School on the Social and Political Constitution of the Economy

2007–2017
Member of the University Council at the University of Duisburg-Essen (Deputy Chair 2007–2012)

2014–2016
Director of the Institute of East Asian Studies (IN-EAST) at the University of Duisburg-Essen

Since 2006
Professor of Comparative Sociology and Japanese Society at the University of Duisburg-Essen

1999–2005
Professor of Sociology with a focus on Japanese society at the Gerhard-Mercator-Universität Duisburg between 1999 and 2003 and at the University of Duisburg-Essen from 2003 onwards)

1995–1999
Associate Professor of Comparative Industrial Sociology, International Christian University, Tokio, Japan

1990–1995
Assistant Professor of Comparative Industrial Sociology, International Christian University, Tokio, Japan

1990
Doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

1982–1984
Master’s degree (M.A.) in Sociology and Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

1977–1981
Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in Sociology and Political Science at Boston College, USA

2021–2022
Scholar in Residence, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Cologne, Germany

2020–2022
Guest Professor, Violence and Society Centre, City, University of London, UK

2016–2018
Specially Appointed Professor, Institute for Global Leadership, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan

2015
Guest Researcher, Collegio Carlo Alberto, Turin, Italy

2012
Guest Professor, JSPS Global Center of Excellence, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

2006–2008
Fellow at the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg – Institute for Advanced Study, Delmenhorst, Germany

2002
Guest Professor, Institute of Social Sciences, University of Tokyo

1994–1997
Research Fellow, Australian Graduate School of Management, University of New South Wales, Australia

• Member of the Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships Committee of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Research Institute of the Federal Employment Agency
• Member of the Jury for the International Research Award from the Max Weber Foundation
• Member of the Global Gender Empowerment Advisory Committee at the Institute for Leadership Development of Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
• Vice-President, Research Committee 02 Economy & Society, International Sociological Association
• Diversity Committee Chair, Executive Council Member and Network G (Labor Markets, Education and Human Resources) of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics
• Member of the Essen College of Gender Research (EKfG) at the University of Duisburg-Essen
• Founding member of the Board of the Deutsches Institut für Interdisziplinäre Sozialpolitikforschung (German Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Social Policy; DIFIS)
• Member of the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Duisburg-Essen
• Member of the UDE Key Research Field Transformation of Contemporary Societies
• Member of the Centre for Global Cooperation Research
• Member of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Integration and Migration Research
• Member of the Board of the Institute of East Asian Studies (IN-EAST) at the University of Duisburg-Essen
• Member of the Alliance for Research on East Asia of the University Alliance Ruhr
• Member of the editorial boards of academic journals Work, Employment and Society; International Review of Social History; Gendaa Kenkyuu; Contemporary Japan; European Journal of Asian Studies