Curriculum Vitae

Born in 1978 in Lima (Peru). 1998-2002 BSc in Environmental Engineering at the National Agrarian University La Molina, Lima, Peru. BSc dissertation on “Organic matter recovery from stickwater for its use as nitrogen source in agricultural soils“. 2001-2005 various activities in the areas environmental education, solid waste management, coastal zone management, organic products, environmental impact assessment. 2003-2005 research assistant at the project “Options for biodiesel production in Peru”, at the National Agrarian University and the British NGO Intermediate Technology Development Group. 2005-2006 MSc Environment and Development at the University of Reading, UK. MSc dissertation about “Governance in combating desertification in Peru: The case of Apurimac Region”. 2006-2007 consultant on political, social, technical and environmental aspects of biofuels in Peru. 2007-2011 research assistant and PhD candidate, and since October 2011 post-doctoral researcher at the chair of “Political Economy and Development”.

Paula works since 2007 on international climate policy, with focus on the role of existing and new market mechanisms in climate change mitigation, and on the role of bargaining strategies, power and institutions in the international negotiations towards a new climate regime. Her Ph.D. thesis, with the title “The CDM and incentives for climate change mitigation in developing countries” and under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Katharina Michaelowa and Dr. Axel Michaelowa, dealt with the interaction between the international climate regime and domestic policies in developing countries that contribute to climate change mitigation.

Research Focus

Environmental policy and politics; international climate policy; market mechanisms; political economy; international negotiations; renewable energy; biofuels