Researchers
Rebeka Hengalová
Lead researcher, Czechia – Linkedin
Rebeka is a Research Fellow of EUROPEUM’s Green Europe programme. She studied Socio-ecological Economics and Policy at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Her specialisation was social policy; in her master’s thesis, she focused on Czech family policy in the context of company childcare. In EUROPEUM, she continues in the socio-ecological direction, researching transport poverty in the context of the Emission Trading System (ETS2) implementation and its mitigation through the Social Climate Fund. She advises on the allocation of the Fund at the Ministry of Environment. Additionally, she leads research on the decarbonisation of housing and the role of citizens and state subsidies in this effort, all within a V4 consortium. Previously, she examined the impact of decarbonisation of the Czech automotive industry on its workers’ employment stability and re-skilling needs. She loves dogs, ballet and coffee.
Silke maes
Researcher, Czechia – Linkedin
Silke Maes is a Research Fellow in EUROPEUM’s Just Europe Programme. She studied EU politics at Ghent University in Belgium and Sciences Po Toulouse, and completed an Erasmus Mundus master’s in European Politics and Society at Charles University in Prague and Leiden University.At EUROPEUM, Silke focuses on topics related to a Just Digital and Green transition, and specialises in the future of work and the Digital Single Market. She worked as a researcher on various international projects and examined, amongst others, V4 policies and discourses vis-à-vis EU climate policy as part of the RevivEU project.Recently, she moved back to the EU capital and now works from EUROPEUM’s office in Brussels. Beyond her work at EUROPEUM, Silke is passionate about Europe, migration, feminist policy, and sailing.
Ingrid Borárosová
Researcher, Slovakia – Linkedin
Ingrid studied political science at Ss Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, where she received her Doctoral degree with the thesis focusing on the integration of migrants. She is one of the founding members of BPI, where she works as the financial and project manager and also as a senior researcher. She focuses her work currently mainly on the following topics such as migration, integration, extremism, radicalisation, public policies, young people and informal education.
filip bajtoš
Researcher, Slovakia – Linkedin
Filip is a researcher, who has been working with Bratislava Policy Institute since 2023. He studied sociology and philosophy at Comenius University in Bratislava and now he’s finishing his Master’s degree in Sociology at Charles University in Prague. His primary areas of research interest are political sociology, socioeconomics and migration.
Orsolya Bajnay
Researcher, Hungary
Orsolya Bajnay is a sociologist who has been working at 21 Research Center as an analyst since 2021, where she conducts quantitative data analyses and works with international grants. She gained her Masters’ degree in Sociology and her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and studied in Lisbon after gaining an Erasmus Scholarship. She had been a member of a College for Advanced Studies during her university years where she has taken several social science courses complimenting her university studies. Her research interests include gender inequalities, feminism and rural sociology. She is a member of an association, where she organises events for young people about social issues in her free time.
kata kiss
Researcher, Hungary
Kata Kiss joined the 21 team in 2023, where she is responsible for qualitative research. She previously studied art theory and philosophy at the Faculty of Humanities at ELTE and completed a postgraduate master’s degree in gender studies at Central European University. She is currently a doctoral candidate in the Psychology Doctoral Program at the University of Pécs, with her dissertation focusing on the ethnography of psychological institutions in Hungary. In addition, she regularly teaches courses in cultural studies and critical science at universities in Budapest and Pécs.
Besides conducting interviews and focus groups, Kata enjoys working primarily on international grants and projects. In her free time, she seeks to learn more about contemporary culture and eco-philosophies, and for relaxation, she enjoys swimming, drawing, and cooking.
Maciej Milewicz
Researcher, Poland
Maciej is a sociologist and researcher in Projekt: Polska Foundation. Expert in social consultations with residents – he participated in in organization of the first Deliberative Poll in Poland on the future of the Municipal Stadium, Civic Court and Participatory Budgeting. Author of scientific publications on social participation, sociology of the city, local communities and the methodology of qualitative research. Owner of the independent marketing company.
Krzysztof Mączka
Researcher, Poland – Linkedin
Krzysztof is a sociologist at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, focusing on public policies and public participation, especially in relation to the environment. He was involved in various projects financed, among others, by the European Commission, the Norwegian Funds, and the National Science Centre. He collaborates with local government and non-governmental organizations. Owner of an independent research company.
Klaudia Rodziajczak
Researcher, Poland
Klaudia is a Ph.D. candidate in psychology at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan. She participated in research on public participation, diagnosis of local environments, and analysis of the socio-political situation in Poland. In projects, she conducts quantitative and qualitative data analyses. Currently, her main research interest is social inequalities and hate speech, particularly in the case of women and the LGBTQ+ community.
Martin Philipp
Analyst, Czechia
Martin has worked at STEM since 2021. He graduated in political science and public policy at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in political science there. Profoessionally, he is working on topics of political parties, systems and actors, and also focuses on climate policies and the social dimension of the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Aleš vomáčka
Analyst, Czechia
Aleš is a data analyst who has worked at STEM since 2023. He is interested in quantitative methods and measurement quality, attitudes towards environmental issues and community energy. He previously worked as an impact evaluator for educational projects at Schola Empirica. In addition to his work at STEM, he is a PhD student at the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, where his focus is on measuring attitudes towards environmental policies and he also teaches courses on statistics and data analysis.