The Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden offers a Doctoral Fellowship in International Politics, starting on 1 April 2027 in Dresden, Germany. The fellowship runs for 2 years with an option to extend by 1.5 years and pays €1,850 per month, plus €150 for material costs and, where applicable, €315 per child. Applications with reference number s26-003 are due by 24 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full call and set out every detail below.
Fellowship Facts in Brief
🏛️ Host: Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology
🔖 Reference number: s26-003
📚 Field: International Politics
🎓 Supervision: Prof. Dr. Anna Holzscheiter, Chair of Political Science with a focus on International Politics
⏱️ Duration: 2 years, with the option of extension by 1.5 years
🗓️ Start date: 1 April 2027
💶 Monthly fellowship: €1,850
📍 Location: Dresden, Germany
⏰ Deadline: 24 November 2026
About the Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden
In the Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden, researchers from the Social Sciences and Humanities, together with artists, explore the relationships between technology, science and society. The Lab was initiated by The Schaufler Foundation together with TUD Dresden University of Technology.
For the third funding phase (April 2027 to September 2030), the Lab comprises eight doctoral fellowships and an annually changing Artist in Residence program. This call covers the fellowship in International Politics.
The Guiding Theme: Energy Cultures in Transition
The Lab's guiding theme for the third funding phase is "Energy Cultures in Transition". It is investigated from a humanities, cultural, social and educational science perspective, explored through artistic practice and communicated to the public.
The theme understands energy as a cultural phenomenon deeply inscribed in aesthetic, historical, political, ecological, economic and socio-technological practices and systems. Building on the growing research fields of the Energy Humanities, Science & Technology Studies and the Digital Humanities, the aim is to examine how modern energy regimes, from petromodernity to nuclear culture and post-carbon futures, have shaped not only material infrastructures but also subjectivities, power relations, progress narratives, geopolitical orders, ecologies and knowledge systems, while also being shaped by them.
Questions at the Heart of the Research Programme
Interdisciplinary perspectives from the social sciences, cultural studies, humanities and educational research represented at the Schaufler Kolleg@TU Dresden make it possible to analyse the entanglements of energy, culture and society. The focus is on:
🎨 The representation, communication and aesthetics of energy transitions and resource paradigms
🔄 Continuities between resource economies and information economies
🏭 The relationships between energy, labor, environment and consumer culture
🧭 The role of colonialism, gender, nationalism, geopolitics, education and social justice in deciding energy futures and navigating collective transformation processes
Research Areas Relevant to International Politics
In the field of International Politics, the following research areas and questions are of particular relevance to the guiding theme:
🌐 Research on the transnational transition of energy cultures, linking Political Science and International Relations with Social Movement Studies, Sociology or Conflict Studies
⚖️ Energy transformation as a political and social distributional conflict in the context of global governance and transnational networks
👷 Challenges of cross-border labour relations in the energy transition, as objects of analysis for Global Social Policy, Transnational Advocacy Networks and international norm research
🎯 Analysis of legitimation strategies for international objectives (for example CO2 reduction) at the national and local levels, particularly in the context of labour
🔍 Investigation of global and transnational issues in local contexts, for example through qualitative, comparative and ethnographic methods
What the Fellowship Pays
💶 Fellowship: €1,850 per month
🧾 Material costs grant: €150
👨👩👧 Family supplement: €315 per child, where applicable
The fellowship is offered subject to the availability of resources. It does not constitute an employment relationship.
Your Tasks as a Doctoral Fellow
📖 Independent research and academic further qualification with the goal of completing a doctorate at TUD
✍️ Writing a dissertation on a topic within the guiding concept "Energy Cultures in Transition" in Political Science, International Relations or Political Sociology
🔬 Engaging in interdisciplinary dialogue, particularly with the STEM partnerships of the Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden
🖌️ Conducting joint research with artists within the framework of the Schaufler Residency
📣 Engaging in science communication and outreach
🗣️ Taking part in the Kolleg's English-language training program, which is mandatory
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Who Should Apply: Requirements
🎓 An excellent university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Political Science or a comparable social science discipline
🧪 Relevant prior experience in applying social science methods
🗺️ Relevant prior experience in International Politics and Social Movement Studies
🤝 A strong ability to work in teams and enjoyment of interdisciplinary collaboration
🇬🇧 English skills at a minimum of C1 level, as the training program is conducted in English
Language of the Dissertation
In accordance with the doctoral regulations of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, the dissertation may be written in either German or English. If you choose to write it in German, corresponding German language skills are required. Beyond this, German language skills are desirable but not mandatory.
What TU Dresden Offers Fellows
🎓 The opportunity to pursue a doctorate within the Schaufler Kolleg, with a structured qualification program and integration into an interdisciplinary research project
🖥️ A fully equipped office workspace on the premises of TUD, in shared office spaces with the other fellows
🏛️ Access to an excellent research infrastructure, including participation in Research Studios and writing retreats
📚 Further training and qualification opportunities from the Graduate Academy and other central institutions of TUD
✈️ Coverage of conference travel costs by the Schaufler Lab, within the limits of the available project funds
Diversity and Equal Opportunities at TUD
TUD describes its university culture as characterised by cosmopolitanism, mutual appreciation, thriving innovation and active participation, and sees diversity as an essential feature and a quality criterion of an excellent university. It welcomes applications regardless of gender, origin, sexual orientation, worldview or disability.
👩🔬 TUD strives to employ more women in academia and research and expressly encourages women to apply
👪 TUD is a family-friendly university
♿ Applications from candidates with disabilities are welcome; if several candidates are equally qualified, those with disabilities or equivalent status under the German Social Code IX (SGB IX) receive priority
TUD is a founding partner in the DRESDEN-concept alliance.
Documents to Include in Your Application
The application can be written in German or English and should contain:
📝 The completed online application form
💌 A letter of motivation
📄 A curriculum vitae in tabular form, including an account of your academic career
🎓 A copy of your most recent university degree certificate
🗂️ An exposé of your research project, including a work and time schedule (max. 20,000 characters)
👨👩👧👦 Details of your family situation, where applicable
How to Apply
🔖 Quote the reference number s26-003
📎 Send all application documents, including the online application form, as a single PDF file by email, preferably via the TUD SecureMail Portal
📮 Alternatively, send the application by post to the address given in the Links section below
🕒 The stamped arrival date of the university central mail service or the time stamp on the TUD email server counts for the deadline
📑 Submit copies only, as applications are not returned
💼 Expenses incurred in attending interviews cannot be reimbursed
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Schaufler Lab Doctoral Fellowship in International Politics pay?
The fellowship pays €1,850 per month, plus a grant for material costs of €150. Where applicable, a family supplement of €315 per child is added.
When does the fellowship start and how long does it last?
It starts on 1 April 2027 and runs for 2 years, with the option of extension by 1.5 years.
Is the fellowship an employment contract?
No. The fellowship does not constitute an employment relationship.
What degree do I need?
You need an excellent Master's degree or equivalent in Political Science or a comparable social science discipline, plus prior experience with social science methods, International Politics and Social Movement Studies.
Do I need to speak German?
No, German is desirable but not mandatory. You need English at a minimum of C1 level, and German skills are required only if you choose to write your dissertation in German.
How long can the research exposé be?
The exposé of your research project, including a work and time schedule, can be a maximum of 20,000 characters.
How should I submit the application?
Send everything, including the online application form, as a single PDF file quoting reference number s26-003, preferably via the TUD SecureMail Portal, or send it by post to the Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden.
Who supervises the doctoral project?
Primary supervision is provided by Prof. Dr. Anna Holzscheiter, Chair of Political Science with a focus on International Politics.
Find more research fellowships like this one in the Fellowships section on Youth Works Hub →.
Deadline
⏳ 24 November 2026
Links
Application email (reference number s26-003): schaufler.lab@tu-dresden.de
TUD SecureMail Portal: https://securemail.tu-dresden.de
Online application form: https://tu-dresden.de/gsw/schauflerlab/schaufler-kolleg/phase-3/anmeldung-registration
Postal address: TU Dresden, Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden, Prof. Dr. Anna Holzscheiter, Helmholtzstr. 10, 01069 Dresden, Germany
Official call: https://www.verw.tu-dresden.de/StellAus/stelle.asp?id=13046&lang=en
Data protection information: https://tu-dresden.de/karriere/datenschutzhinweis
