New Max Planck Law Research Coordinator – Dr Niels Petersson

It is with great sadness that we must say farewell to Professor Russell Miller, who took two-years’ leave from his home Institution to lead Max Planck Law. This leave has ended and he is returning to his Chair at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. He leaves a great legacy at Max Planck Law, and we will strive to build on his great work.

Professor Miller writes, ’I am proud of what we accomplished in these two years. It is an impressive record on any account, but more remarkable considering that we pressed ahead with building this network even in the deepest part of the pandemic’.

At the same time, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Niels Petersson as the new Research Coordinator of Max Planck Law.

Prior to joining Max Planck Law, Dr Petersson was a professor of history at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, where he worked for over thirteen years. He holds a PhD in History from FernUniversität Hagen and obtained his Habilitation in Modern and Contemporary History at the University of Konstanz in 2008. At Sheffield Hallam University, he taught  imperial and German history.

His historical work addresses aspects of the history of globalization such as international relations, trade, and mobility, and includes a larger study of the legal and non-legal institutions underpinning cross-border economic exchange. He has significant experience in the area of support, training and professional development for doctoral students.

Of his vision for Max Planck Law, Dr Petersson says, ’I look forward to engaging with this impressive network. I hope to not only maintain but to deepen the cooperation between Max Planck Law researchers and to push forward with making Max Planck Law one of the most attractive places for researchers to undertake graduate and postgraduate training’