Open to opportunities

Wala' Maaitah

@walamaaitah

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I’m a social and political psychology researcher focused on trauma, migration, and statelessness advocacy.

Germany

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking for an interdisciplinary role where I can blend social-psychology research with on-the-ground support—advocating on statelessness, asylum, discrimination, and trauma—while collaborating across academia, NGOs, and policy to drive measurable change.

I’m a PhD-trained social and political psychology professional focused on the “Trauma of Conflict & Migration,” with a predominant emphasis on identity processes and mental health of disadvantaged groups. My work examines the “detrimental repercussions of intergroup rejection” on both psyche and society, and I study how group-level sociopolitical action, violence, and the absence of effective support shape outcomes for minorities under systemic oppression.

Since 15/2018, I’ve also combined research with direct practice as an “Integration, Asylum & Language Trainer,” working with displaced communities through language and integration support. Alongside this, I’ve served in roles such as “Psychosocial & Discrimination Advocate,” “Psychological Counsellor,” and a “Psychology Research Fellow on Statelessness,” including my involvement in “Psychological Consultant (Statelessness Determination Tool Development)” for the Statefree Organization.

My professional ethos is to connect rigorous scholarship with real-world interventions: I scrutinize the debated role of “group identification as a psychological shield and ego-defense mechanism” under “scientifically novel sociopolitical circumstances” and among “understudied/invisible populations such as those under apartheid or the stateless.” I aim to bring this evidence-based perspective into interdisciplinary teams—where research, counseling, and advocacy meaningfully reinforce each other.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Statelessness Advisor

Current

European Network on Statelessness

Aug 2025 - Present (10 months)

Served on the Community Advisory Board for the European Network on Statelessness. Provided guidance informed by experience with statelessness and related psychological and social impacts.

Statelessness Advisory Stakeholder Engagement Migration Support

Current

International Operations Coordinator

Current

Ingenieurbüro Dr. Saad

Jan 2023 - Present (3 years 5 months)

Coordinated international operations and cross-organizational workstreams to support ongoing activities. Managed operational tasks and ensured alignment across stakeholders.

Operations Coordination Stakeholder Management Program Coordination Planning Documentation Reporting

Current

Asylum & Language Trainer

Current

Volkshochschule Soemmerda/Apolda/Weimar

Delivered integration, asylum, and language training supporting migrant and refugee participants. Coordinated learning and support activities in collaboration with the local Auslaenderbehoerde Soemmerda.

Language Instruction Integration Adult Education Intercultural Communication Needs Assessment Support Coordination

Psychological Consultant

Statefree Organization

Mar 2025 - May 2025 (2 months)

Consulted on the development of a statelessness determination tool. Contributed psychological expertise to support assessment design and appropriate use.

Tool Development Statelessness Documentation

Psychology Research Fellow

Statefree Organization

Oct 2023 - May 2025 (1 year 7 months)

Conducted research focused on statelessness and its psychological dimensions. Produced research outputs through investigation, synthesis of literature, and academic writing.

Statelessness Research Psychology Research Design literature review Academic Writing Data Analysis

Psychosocial & Discrimination Advocate

Empardio - Damost Halle

Feb 2023 - Dec 2024 (1 year 10 months)

Provided psychosocial support and discrimination advocacy on a freelance basis. Assisted clients with empowerment-focused guidance to address daily life discrimination.

Client Empowerment Community Outreach

Psychological Counsellor

Aman Project

Feb 2023 - Aug 2023 (6 months)

Provided psychological counselling for clients as part of the Aman Project. Supported individuals in navigating psychosocial challenges associated with discrimination and displacement.

Psychological Counselling Documentation Referral Coordination

Social Psychology Lecturer

Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Oct 2015 - Feb 2018 (2 years 4 months)

Lectured on Bachelor’s and Master’s coursework in Social and Political Psychology. Planned and delivered teaching sessions within the Social Psychology department.

Higher Education Lecturing Course Facilitation Academic Mentoring Student Advising

Research & Teaching Assistant

Birzeit University

Aug 2009 - Aug 2010 (1 year)

Supported research and teaching in the Department of Languages and Translation. Assisted with academic tasks supporting course activities and research-related work.

Research Support literature review Academic Tutoring translation support

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Friedrich Schiller University

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Social and Political Psychology

2024 -

Activities and societies: Targeted samples include refugees in Germany, Mexican migrants in the USA, Palestinians in the West Bank, Native Americans on Reservations, and stateless persons in Germany.

PhD in Social and Political Psychology focused on the trauma of conflict and migration. Research includes identity processes and mental health among disadvantaged groups.

EMPARDIO

State-Certified Training, Anti-Discrimination

2021 -

State-certified training in anti-discrimination through EMPARDIO—Empowerment against daily life discrimination in East Germany.

Friedrich Schiller University

Master's Coursework, Psychology; Applied Ethics

2015 -

Master's coursework in psychology, including coursework in applied ethics, at Friedrich Schiller University.

Jena Centre for Reconciliation Studies

DFG Research Project, Intergroup Conflict & Reconciliation Research

2013 -

Activities and societies: Focus: Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

DFG intergroup conflict and reconciliation research project (Hearts of Flesh not Stone) at the Jena Centre for Reconciliation Studies, Friedrich Schiller University.