The Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden is offering a Doctoral Fellowship in Art History for early-career researchers who want to complete a doctorate at TUD Dresden University of Technology in Dresden, Germany. The fellowship pays EUR 1,850 per month, plus EUR 150 for material costs and, where applicable, a family supplement of EUR 315 per child. It runs for 2 years with an option to extend by 1.5 years, starting on 1 April 2027, and applications close on 24 November 2026 under reference number s26-006. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full call and set out every detail below.
About the Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden
In the Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden, researchers from the Social Sciences and Humanities work together with artists to explore the relationships between technology, science and society. The Lab was initiated by The Schaufler Foundation together with TUD Dresden University of Technology.
For its third funding phase (April 2027 to September 2030), the Lab comprises eight doctoral fellowships and an Artist in Residence program that changes every year. This call covers the fellowship in Art History.
The Guiding Theme: Energy Cultures in Transition
The Lab's guiding theme for the third funding phase is "Energy Cultures in Transition". The theme 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. It builds on the growing research fields of:
⚡ Energy Humanities
🔬 Science & Technology Studies
💻 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 being shaped by them in turn.
Questions at the Heart of the Theme
Interdisciplinary perspectives from the social sciences, cultural studies, humanities and educational research 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 in Art History
In the field of Art History, the focus is on the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The following research areas and questions are of particular relevance to the guiding theme:
🌱 Artistic engagements with ecological crises and their intersections with social, gender-related and political conflicts, with a particular interest in art in the context of the GDR and the post-1989 transformation period
⛏️ Extractivism, material resources and artistic practice in the context of (neo-)colonial power relations and global resource economies, with a particular interest in art from Africa and the African diaspora
🤖 AI and digital image cultures, with a focus on the material and energy infrastructures of digital image production and artistic practice
📢 Visual politics of protest and activism in energy, climate and resource conflicts, and their circulation across analog and digital publics
Supervision
Primary supervision will be provided by Prof. Dr. Kerstin Schankweiler, Chair of Visual Studies and Art History at TUD.
Fellowship Funding and Duration
The fellowship is offered subject to the availability of resources:
💶 EUR 1,850 per month fellowship
🧰 EUR 150 grant for material costs
👨👩👧 EUR 315 per child family supplement, where applicable
🗓️ 2 years, with the option of extension by 1.5 years
🚀 Start date: 1 April 2027
The fellowship does not constitute an employment relationship.
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What the Fellow Will Do
📖 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 the discipline of Art History
🤝 Interdisciplinary dialogue, particularly with the STEM partnerships of the Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden
🎭 Joint research with artists within the framework of the Schaufler Residency
📣 Engagement in science communication and outreach
🗣️ Mandatory participation in the Kolleg's English-language training program
Who Can Apply
The fellowship is aimed at early-career researchers in the field of Art History. Applicants should meet these requirements:
🎓 An excellent university degree in Art History or Visual Culture 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 the Schaufler Kolleg Offers
🏛️ 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 made available to the 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, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities
TUD describes its university culture as one of 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 all applicants who would like to commit themselves, their achievements and productivity to the success of the whole institution.
Applications are welcome from people 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. It is a family-friendly university and welcomes applications from candidates with disabilities. If multiple candidates prove to be equally qualified, those with disabilities or with equivalent status pursuant to the German Social Code IX (SGB IX) will receive priority.
TUD is a founding partner in the DRESDEN-concept alliance.
Application Documents
Your detailed application, in German or English, 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)
How to Apply
🔖 Quote the reference number s26-006
📎 Send all application documents, including the online application form, as a single PDF file by email, preferably via the TUD SecureMail Portal
📮 Alternatively, send your application by post to: TU Dresden, Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden, Prof. Dr. Kerstin Schankweiler, Helmholtzstr. 10, 01069 Dresden, Germany
📑 Submit copies only, as applications will not be returned
💼 Expenses incurred in attending interviews cannot be reimbursed
The deadline is met by the stamped arrival date of the university central mail service or the time stamp on the email server of TUD.
Find more Fellowships on Youth Works Hub →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Schaufler Lab Doctoral Fellowship in Art History pay?
The fellowship pays EUR 1,850 per month, plus a grant of EUR 150 for material costs. Where applicable, a family supplement of EUR 315 per child is added.
How long does the fellowship last and when does it start?
It runs for 2 years, with the option of extension by 1.5 years. The fellowship starts on 1 April 2027.
Is this fellowship an employment contract?
No. The call states that the fellowship does not constitute an employment relationship.
Which research topics fit this Art History fellowship?
The focus is on art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in relation to "Energy Cultures in Transition". Areas of particular relevance include art and ecological crises (with interest in the GDR and post-1989 transformation), extractivism and art from Africa and the African diaspora, AI and digital image cultures, and the visual politics of protest and activism.
Do I need to speak German?
No, German is desirable but not mandatory. English at a minimum of C1 level is required for the training program, and the dissertation may be written in German or English; German skills are only required if you write it in German.
What degree do I need?
You need an excellent university degree in Art History or Visual Culture Studies.
Who will supervise my doctorate?
Primary supervision will be provided by Prof. Dr. Kerstin Schankweiler, Chair of Visual Studies and Art History at TUD.
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 do I submit my application?
Send all documents, including the online application form, as a single PDF file quoting reference number s26-006, preferably via the TUD SecureMail Portal to the Schaufler Lab email address, or by post to the Lab's address in Dresden. Both are listed in the Links section below.
Deadline
⏳ 24 November 2026
Links
📧 Application email: schaufler.lab@tu-dresden.de
📝 Online application form: https://tu-dresden.de/gsw/schauflerlab/schaufler-kolleg/phase-3/anmeldung-registration
🔒 TUD SecureMail Portal: https://securemail.tu-dresden.de
📄 Official call: https://www.verw.tu-dresden.de/StellAus/stelle.asp?id=13049&lang=en
🛡️ Data protection information: https://tu-dresden.de/karriere/datenschutzhinweis
