Yvonne Franz studied geography at the University in Cologne and the University of Vienna where she also received her doctorate in urban geography in 2013. As a university assistant (prae-doc) at University of Vienna she coordinated the Erasmus Mundus Masters in Urban Studies 4CITIES and conducted extensive fieldwork on gentrification and urban rejuvenation policies in New York City, Vienna and Berlin. After the completion of her doctorate, the successful approval of research proposals within the Joint Programming Initiative Urban Europe allowed her to join the Institute of Urban and Regional Research (ISR) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences as a post-doc researcher. Currently, she is affiliated to the University of Vienna, Department of Geography and Regional Research as a postdoc university assistant. Her research projects include the INTERREG Central Europe (funded by the European Regional Development Fund) on “Integrating Refugees in Society and the Labour Market Through Social Innovation - SIforREF” as well as research projects on arrival spaces and housing transition in Vienna. She teaches courses within the fields of urban geography and urban studies both at the University of Vienna and other universities. In addition, she is the local coordinator of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Urban Studies (4CITIES). Her research interests lie in the fields of urban geography with a special focus on neighbourhood development, urban revitalisation and gentrification as well as urban planning and governance. Comparative analyses with Berlin, Bologna and Ljubljana are part of her ongoing research collaborations.

During her visit as Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar at The Europe Center, Yvonne will continue analysis and writing on spaces of encounter and social innovation in neighbourhood development.