Dr. Alina Gales was a PhD candidate in the area of Gender Studies in Engineering and Science and completed her dissertation at the chair in 2020, titled “Women and Technology: How Far Have We Come in the Digital Age? Women's Perceptions of Gendered Technology Stereotypes”. She is currently head of Staff Unit Diversity & Inclusion at TUM, working with Prof. Dr. Claudia Peus in her role as Executive Vice President for Talent Management and Diversity. In this position, she conceptualizes and implements strategic initiatives to develop the EU's leading academic institution into an even more diverse and inclusive university and employer. Her academic and professional work centers on the mutual influence of digital technology and society in relation to gender, with a particular focus on how Artificial Intelligence shapes structures of privilege and discrimination. She is interested in how digital technologies alter traditional power dynamics and societal hierarchies – and how individuals, especially women, can leverage these technologies to influence their societal status and agency. Alina Gales regularly gives talks, keynotes, and presentations; leads workshops, lectures, and seminars; participates in and moderates panel discussions; and is featured in interviews.

Short Bio

Since 10/2023	Head of Staff Unit Diversity & Inclusion for the Executive Vice President for Talent Management & Diversity at Technical University of Munich
05/2021 – 09/2023	Diversity Manager within Staff Unit Diversity & Inclusion for the Executive Vice President for Talent Management & Diversity at Technical University of Munich
01/2017 – 01/2021	PhD in Gender Studies in Engineering & Science at the Chair of Research and Science Management and the TUM School of Governance | Technical University of Munich, Germany
01/2019 – 05/2019	Visiting Researcher at University of California Berkeley, USA
09/2014 – 10/2015	M.Sc. Communication Science | University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
07/2012 – 01/2013	Semester abroad Communications and New Media | National University of Singapore, Singapore
09/2010 – 06/2013	B.A. Media and Communication Science (Minor: Political Science + Philosophy) | University of Mannheim, Germany

 

Publications

Gengler, E., Hagerer, I., & Gales, A. (2024). Diversity bias in artificial intelligence. In The Digital and AI Coaches' Handbook (pp. 229-240). Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003383741-23

Gales, A. (2022). Perceived gendered expectations: a challenge for Generation Z women. Feminist Media Studies, 23(7), 3274–3290. doi:10.1080/14680777.2022.2108874

Gales, A. (2021). Women and Technology: How Far Have We Come in the Digital Age?: Women's Perceptions of Gendered Technology Stereotypes (Doctoral dissertation, Technische Universität München).

Gales, A., & Hubner, S. V. (2020). Perceptions of the self versus one’s own social group: (Mis)conceptions of older women’s interest in and competence with technology. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(848), 1–15. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00848

Gales, A., & Loos, E. (2020). The impact of the relationship and family status in retirement age on women’s incorporation of technical devices in their everyday life. In J. Zhou & Q. Gao (Eds.), Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population, Technology and Society, Proceedings of the 6^th International Conference, ITAP 2020, held as part of the 22^nd HCI International Conference (pp. 207–225). Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-50232-4_15

Scholarships and awards 

Impact of Diversity Award

Google exploreCSR award

PhD Scholarship from Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation