Master of Arts, Social Anthropology, Indology und Education at the University of Heidelberg (1994). PhD in Anthropology, University of Heidelberg (1999). Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department for Anthropology, University of Heidelberg (1999–2002). Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, University Halle (2002–2007). Habilitation (Post-doc degree) in Social Anthropology, University of Halle (2006). Senior Lecturer in Anthropology and Sociology, School of Social Sciences and International Studies, University of New South Wales, Sydney (2007–2010). Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology, School of Social Sciences and International Studies, University of New South Wales, Sydney (2011–2012). Professor of Anthropology and Head of the Department of Anthropology, University Leipzig (2012–2020). Scientific Member of the Senat of the German Research Foundation (DFG) since (2019–2023). Director of the Department “Anthropology of Politics and Governance” at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle (Saale) since April 2020. Member of the Scientific Commission of German Science and Humanities Council (WR) and fellow of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW) since 2023.