She earned her Ph.D. in Germanic Studies from the University of Minnesota (2001) and her M.A. in Modern European History from the University of California, Los Angeles (1995). Her research focuses on (East) German literature and film, Homeland discourse, the fairy tale, and science fiction. Her publications include Science Fiction Literature in East Germany (Peter Lang, 2006) and articles in the German Quarterly, German Studies Review, Women in German Yearbook, Film & History, Extrapolation, Utopian Studies and Filmforum. Session 38: Parody in Science Fiction Film