Welcome to the University of Mannheim
Prof. Dr. Tina In-Albon
Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy of Childhood and Adolescence
Emotional disorders—especially anxiety disorders in children and adolescents—are the primary research focus of psychologist Tina In-Albon, a topic she also explored in her PhD at the University of Basel in 2008. “Childhood anxiety disorders increase the risk of developing other mental health conditions later in life. That’s why it’s crucial to treat them early,” In-Albon explains.
She has remained committed to researching emotion regulation, and in recent years, her focus has expanded to include nonsuicidal self-injury disorder, as well as suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and adolescents. In addition to her academic work, the Swiss-born psychologist has also worked as a psychotherapist treating young patients, most recently in a supervisory role, supporting her students and trainee therapists in clinical practice.
The demand for psychotherapy has been steadily increasing, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. In-Albon acknowledges the strengths of the German healthcare system, where psychotherapy services are well-integrated into the national health insurance system—a setup that is not always guaranteed in other countries.
She joined the University of Mannheim in early September 2024 and has started building a psychotherapeutic research and training outpatient clinic for children and adolescents. The clinic will offer treatment for young patients with a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, trauma-related disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. A key feature of the new outpatient clinic is its practice-oriented teaching approach, allowing master’s students in clinical psychology and psychotherapy to gain hands-on experience in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.
Currently, the clinic is located in Mannheim’s city center, but in 2025, it will relocate to Willy-Brandt-Platz near the central train station. “We’re really looking forward to the new facility,” says In-Albon. “Once the clinic and research facilities are housed in the same building again, many things will become much easier.”
Research interests:
- Psychotherapy research in children and adolescents
- Anxiety disorders
- Nonsuicidal self-injury disorder
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
- Emotion regulation
- Development and evaluation of diagnostic procedures
Selected posts:
- 2013 to 2024: Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau
- 2012: Licensed Psychological Psychotherapist, Rhineland-Palatinate
- 2004 to 2013: Research Associate at the University of Basel, completed psychotherapy training
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Schäfer
Chair of American Studies (Literature and Culture), Anglistik III
Whether in film, music, or literature: Elements of the Western genre have been a powerful influence on both American and European cultural landscapes for decades, appearing in everything from Karl May’s novels to Beyoncé’s music—and recently even in the German crime series Tatort. The North American Western, along with its adaptations in Europe, is a key area of research for Stefanie Schäfer, who was named professor and chair of American Studies (Literature and Culture) at the University of Mannheim in August 2024.
Schäfer’s research delves into why Western culture holds such enduring appeal in Germany. Cowboy costumes, for example, seem perennially popular, and Western films and TV series like Yellowstone remain box office and streaming successes. For Schäfer, the American West is part of a larger inquiry into the figurations—characters, symbols, and narratives—of national identity in North America. Her work explores both US politics and political narratives and the intersections of literature and North American culture.
Her habilitation thesis, published in 2021, was devoted to the Yankee as a national figure in 19th-century American literature and culture. Recently, she edited a volume on representations of armed women in popular culture. She is currently writing a monograph on the role of US First Ladies, with a particular emphasis on Melania Trump, and spearheading an interdisciplinary research project on populism from a cultural studies perspective. In the upcoming 2025 spring/
In addition to her work on American culture, Schäfer has a strong research interest in contemporary Canadian literature. “I’m eager to expand the prominence of Canadian Studies here,” she says, noting that Mannheim’s receptiveness to this focus was a particular draw. She also appreciates the Department of English’s emphasis on contemporary literature and the School of Humanities’ interdisciplinary approach. “My additional interests include media and communication studies, as well as inquiries into contemporary political culture,” Schäfer adds. As for Mannheim itself, she describes it as a vibrant, diverse, and exciting city where one truly feels “at the forefront of current trends.”
Research interests:
- Figurations of national identity in the US and Canada
- Populism and celebrity culture in US politics, past and present
- European Western myths and the representation of cowgirls
Selected posts:
- 2022–2024: Visiting professorships at the Universities of Erlangen and Marburg
- 2020–2023: Marie Curie Fellow and Executive Director, Centre for Canadian Studies/
Centre d’Études Canadiennes, University of Vienna - 2020: Visiting professor in American Studies, University of Augsburg
Texts: Yvonne Kaul / April 2025