Waldinger's research interests focus on the long-term effects of climate change on the economy and on changes or adaptations in response to environmental challenges. "Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time", says Waldinger. "Now is the time when the effects become clear – adaptation in particular is an issue that is actually in everyone's interest." Among other things, she is researching how to deal with climate change in sub-Saharan Africa, supported by a research grant from the Gates Foundation.
Waldinger's previous educational and career stages and her research interests are mutually dependent: She completed her doctorate at the renowned London School of Economics, specializing in international development. Waldinger joined the program as a researcher at the Grantham Research Institute for Climate Change and the Environment. Her expertise includes numerous publications in major journals, including the Journal of Political Economy and the Journal of Economic Growth, in which she examines the impact of climate change on the European economy and politics. Most recently, she worked at the ifo Institute, where she was deputy director of the Center for Labor and Demographic Economics and, as head of a junior research group, promoted the topics of climate economics and sustainable development. She explains: "In the wider context of climate change, we need to focus on both prevention and adaptation. We must reduce CO2 consumption and adapt to the unavoidable changes." She gained further valuable international experience as a visiting researcher at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London.
At the KU, Maria Waldinger will intensify her research on sustainable economic policy and thus open up new perspectives, especially for students in the Bachelor's program in Sustainability in Business and Economics. She emphasizes that "sustainability is a long-term process that will pay off in the future" – the course is designed to prepare young people to help shape the future in key positions. She attaches great importance to the practical transfer of theoretical knowledge in teaching: "For me, it's important that students understand the theoretical foundations. Once they understand a concept, we should reinforce it with practical examples so that they literally 'get their hands dirty'." In this context, Waldinger emphasizes the advantages of the KU: "The relationship between students and lecturers is very close, not a mass university – this allows me to be a direct point of contact." She wants to pass on her experience and her international network to the students and make clear how important it is in economics to think analytically and systematically about decisions.