Elena Hammer

Elena Hammer (formerly Stuhlpfarrer) holds a doctorate in social pedagogy and a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Her dissertation explored how young women use digital spaces to form, maintain, and end romantic relationships. She is currently working on her master’s thesis in sociology, which examines emotional labor in the tattooing process.

Elena Hammer worked as a university assistant at the University of Graz for five years. During this time, she contributed to various research projects, including studies on the reasons for out-of-home placement in the districts of Graz-Umgebung and Liezen, on spending in digital games (ICTC – Insert Coin to Continue), and on the EU project Youth Skills – Digital Skills and Well-Being. Since February 2024, Elena Hammer has been a lecturer at FH Joanneum’s Institute for Social Work. In addition, she has been volunteering at a women’s emergency shelter since 2014.

Her research interests include youth studies, particularly with regard to love and relationships, digital phenomena, and deviant behavior. She also addresses issues of poverty and homelessness, with a particular focus on female poverty.

For her introductory seminar “Scientific Work,” she received the “Lehre Ausgezeichnet” recognition award from the University of Graz and was also nominated for the “Ars Docendi” State Prize.