Antonia Steigerwald is a Research Associate at the University of Lucerne, specializing in economic sociology and Science, Technology & Society (STS). Her research examines how socio-technical infrastructures and data-driven practices transform markets and social relations, with a particular focus on digital payment systems. She combines qualitative methods and theory-building approaches to explore the interplay between technology, economy, and society.
At the University of Lucerne, Antonia is completing her PhD in the SNSF-funded project Digital Payments: Making Payments Personal and Social, where she investigates how digital infrastructures reshape transactional relationships and embed payment systems into broader social and economic contexts.
Beyond research, Antonia has contributed to university governance and quality development through committee work, project planning, and organizing academic events, including conducting an institutional review and developing recommendations for quality management.
Prior to her doctoral work, she held research and consulting roles at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, focusing on digital communication management, agile organizational development, and online communities. She earned her master’s degree in Social and Communication Sciences with a thesis on socio-technical innovations in the sharing economy. Her professional experience includes leading digital communication strategies and community management in academic and industry settings.