Sophia Russack is Researcher in the Institutions unit at CEPS.

Her main research interests lie in the fields of EU institutional architecture, decision-making processes and institutional reform, with a particular focus on the European Commission. She covers topics such as the European Parliament elections and the lead candidate (Spitzenkandidaten) process; EU democracy and accountability; and the concept of differentiated European integration.

After obtaining her BA in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Frankfurt, she specialised in European affairs. In the course of her Master’s degree in European Studies at Maastricht University, she received in-depth instruction on the politics and policies of the European Union as well as in qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Besides her responsibilities at CEPS, Sophia is currently conducting PhD research at Maastricht University, investigating the European Commission’s politicisation and the ‘political’ Commission under Jean-Claude Juncker.