Politics and Religion
Religion and Sustainable Development
Research on societal / social cohesion, social capital
Sociology of religion, empirical research on religion
Empirical methods, statistical regression & multi-level analysis, survey research
Mixed Methods
International relations, development policy, Global South
Peace and Conflict Studies, Transitional Justice, religion and conflict/peace
Religion and Conspiracy Theories

Academic Education
10/2016 - 02/2019	Master of Arts in Political Science (major) and "Christianity & Culture" (minor) at the Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg
10/2013 - 09/2016	Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (major) and Catholic Theologie (minor) at the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz
07/2015 - 11/2015	Semester abroad at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth (South Africa)
Work Experience
10/2018 - 02/2019	Cooperation with the "German Development Institute" (DIE) for the Master Thesis, Bonn
10/2017 - 02/2019	Research Assistant at the Chair of International Relations at the Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg
05/2016 - 08/2016	Research Associate for the Bachelor Thesis at the "German Corporation for International Cooperation" (GIZ), Eschborn
07/2015 - 11/2015	International internship at the NGO "Masifunde Learner Development", Port Elizbaeth (South Africa)
10/2012 - 03/2013	International internship at the GIZ (German Corporation for International Cooperation) in Lima (Peru)
Functions and Memberships
2021 - 2023	Visiting scholar at HU Berlin

Religion als Ressource der Krisenbewältigung? Analysen am Beispiel der Coronapandemie. Hillenbrand, Carolin; Pollack, Detlef (2023) Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung. Type of Publication: Book (monograph)
Carolin Hillenbrand, Detlef Pollack: Religiosity, Spirituality and Conspiracy Theories: Empirical-Quantitative Analysis during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany, in: German… Hillenbrand, Carolin; Pollack, Detlef (2023) In: German Politics and Society, 41 Type of Publication: Research article (journal)
The Role of Religious Actors in the COVID-19 Pandemic: a theory-based empirical analysis with policy recommendations for action Yendell, Alexander / Hidalgo, Oliver / Hillenbrand, Carolin (2021) Stuttgart: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag / Self-publishing . Type of Publication: Working paper
Die Rolle von religiösen Akteuren in der COVID-19-Pandemie: Eine theoriegeleitete empirische Analyse mit politischen Handlungsempfehlungen Yendell, Alexander / Hidalgo, Oliver / Hillenbrand, Carolin (2021) Stuttgart: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag / Self-publishing . Type of Publication: Working paper
Religion als Treiber oder Bremse für Bedrohungsgefühle? Eine empirische Analyse der Zusammenhänge zwischen Religion und migrationsbezogenen Bedrohungsgefühlen in Deutschland Hillenbrand, Carolin (2020) In: Zeitschrift für Religion, Gesellschaft und Politik, 4(1) Type of Publication: Research article (journal)

Does religion immunize against or stimulate conspiracy beliefs? The role of religiosity in conspiracy theories in the context of the Covid19 pandemic in Germany Hillenbrand, Carolin (24/02/2021) IV ISA Forum of Sociology, Online Type of talk: scientific talk
You can't serve God and the conspiracy - Relationships between religiosity and conspiracy mentality during the Corona Pandemic Carolin Hillenbrand & Alexander Yendell (05/02/2021) Jahrestagung des Arbeitskreises quantitative Religionsforschung 2021 „Religion und Migration“ , Digital Type of talk: scientific talk
Religion: a curse or blessing for the socio-ecological transformation? A research design for global cross-country analyses of the role of religion in… Hillenbrand, Carolin (16/09/2020) 40. DGS Kongress "Gesellschaft unter Spannung", Digital Type of talk: scientific talk
The role of citizens’ religion for the cohesion of societies from a global comparative perspective Hillenbrand, Carolin (24/08/2020) ECPR General Conference - Section "Religion and Politics Across Boundaries", Virtual Type of talk: scientific talk
Religion as bridge or barrier? A cross-country multi-level analysis on the role of religion in the social cohesion of staties with varying level of democracy Carolin Hillenbrand (12/03/2020) Sicherheit, Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft - Theorien und Problemfelder internationaler Politik - 14. IB-Nachwuchstagung…, Akademie für Politische Bildung Tutzing Type of talk: scientific talk

Scholarship for dissertation exposé Awarded by: Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes Award given to: Carolin Hillenbrand Announced at: 01/01/2019 \| Date of awarding: 01/01/2019 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction
Award for the best degree at the Institute for Political Science Awarded by: Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg Award given to: Carolin Hillenbrand Announced at: 01/01/2019 \| Date of awarding: 01/01/2019 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction
Award for the best degree at the Institute for Political Science Awarded by: Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz Award given to: Carolin Hillenbrand Date of awarding: 01/01/2016 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction
Scholarship for studies, talent promotion program Awarded by: Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes Award given to: Carolin Hillenbrand Announced at: 01/01/2014 Type of distinction: Scholarship
Scholarhip for studies, talent promotion program Awarded by: Cusanuswerk Award given to: Carolin Hillenbrand Announced at: 01/01/2013 Type of distinction: Scholarship

Religion, a bridge or barrier? The role of religion in social cohesion from an empirical cross-country perspective
Candidate: Hillenbrand, Carolin | Supervisors: Pollack, Detlef
Period of time: 01/10/2019 - 30/09/2022
Doctoral examination procedure finished at: Doctoral examination procedure at University of Münster