The Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden offers a Doctoral Fellowship in Sociology in Dresden, Germany, paying EUR 1,850 per month plus a EUR 150 grant for material costs and, where applicable, a family supplement of EUR 315 per child. The fellowship runs for 2 years from April 1, 2027, with the option of extension by 1.5 years, under the guiding theme "Energy Cultures in Transition". Applications (reference s26-008) close on 24 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full call, and every detail is set out below.
About the Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden
In the Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden, researchers from the Social Sciences and Humanities as well as artists explore the relationships between technology, science and society. The Lab was initiated by The Schaufler Foundation together with TUD Dresden University of Technology.
🏛️ Initiated by: The Schaufler Foundation and TUD Dresden University of Technology
🔬 Who works there: researchers from the Social Sciences and Humanities, and artists
🎨 Artist in Residence: an annually changing program within the Lab
👥 Third funding phase: eight doctoral fellowships in total
The Third Funding Phase: April 2027 to September 2030
The Lab's guiding theme for the upcoming third funding phase (April 2027–September 2030) is "Energy Cultures in Transition". The theme is:
📚 investigated from a humanities, cultural, social and educational science perspective
🖌️ explored through artistic practice
📣 communicated to the public
For this phase, the Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden comprises eight doctoral fellowships and an annually changing Artist in Residence program. This listing covers the fellowship in the field of Sociology.
What "Energy Cultures in Transition" Means
The guiding 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 dynamically 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
💡 knowledge systems
At the same time, these regimes have been shaped by them in turn. 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 multifaceted entanglements of energy, culture and society.
Key Questions Under the Guiding Theme
The focus of the theme is on questions concerning:
🎭 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 Focus in Sociology
In the field of Sociology, the following research area is of particular relevance to the guiding theme:
🔥 The (conflict-ridden) negotiation of imaginaries, infrastructures, institutional frameworks and/or externalities (for example emissions, waste, waste heat) associated with energy production and supply across a wide variety of practices, communities, networks, organizations, markets, fields and/or assemblages
Supervision
Primary supervision will be provided by Prof. Dr. Susann Wagenknecht, Chair of Micro-Sociology and Technosocial Interaction. The fellowship is aimed at early-career researchers in the field of Sociology.
Fellowship Funding and Duration
The fellowship is offered subject to the availability of resources. Its financial terms are:
💶 Monthly fellowship: EUR 1,850 per month
🧾 Grant for material costs: EUR 150
👶 Family supplement: EUR 315 per child, where applicable
✈️ Conference travel: costs covered by the Schaufler Lab within the limits of the available project funds
📅 Duration: 2 years, with the option of extension by 1.5 years
🚀 Start date: April 1, 2027
The fellowship 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 the discipline of Sociology
🤝 A high degree of willingness to engage 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
📢 Engagement in science communication and outreach
🗣️ Mandatory participation in the Kolleg's English-language training program
Shared office spaces will be made available to the fellows.
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Who Can Apply: Requirements
🎓 An excellent university degree in Sociology or a comparable field in the social sciences
🔍 Relevant previous experience in the sociological analysis of the environment, technology or energy, and/or in the field of Science and Technology 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
🔬 Access to an excellent research infrastructure, including participation in Research Studios and writing retreats
🏫 Numerous 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
University Culture at TUD
TUD embodies a university culture characterized by cosmopolitanism, mutual appreciation, thriving innovation and active participation. For TUD, diversity is an essential feature and a quality criterion of an excellent university, and it welcomes all applicants who would like to commit themselves, their achievements and productivity to the success of the whole institution. TUD is a founding partner in the DRESDEN-concept alliance.
Inclusion and Equal Opportunities
🤝 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.
🏡 TUD is a family-friendly university.
♿ Applications from candidates with disabilities are welcome. 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.
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
📎 Send your application documents, including the online application form, as a single PDF file.
🔢 Quote the reference number s26-008.
🔒 Submission is preferably via the TUD SecureMail Portal to the Schaufler Lab email address.
📮 Alternatively, applications can be sent by post to: TU Dresden, Schaufler Lab@TU Dresden, Prof. Dr. Susann Wagenknecht, Helmholtzstr. 10, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
⏱️ The stamped arrival date of the university central mail service or the time stamp on the email server of TUD applies.
📑 Please submit copies only, as your application will not be returned.
🚆 Expenses incurred in attending interviews cannot be reimbursed.
Information about your data protection rights, the purpose for which your data will be processed and further data protection details is available on the TUD website listed in the Links section below.
Find more doctoral and research opportunities like this one in the Fellowships section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Schaufler Lab Doctoral Fellowship in Sociology pay?
The fellowship pays EUR 1,850 per month, plus a grant for material costs of EUR 150. Where applicable, a family supplement of EUR 315 per child is added, and conference travel is covered within the limits of the available project funds.
How long does the fellowship last and when does it start?
It runs for 2 years, starting on April 1, 2027, with the option of extension by 1.5 years. It is part of the Lab's third funding phase, which runs from April 2027 to September 2030.
Is the fellowship an employment contract?
No. The call states that the fellowship does not constitute an employment relationship.
Do I need to speak German?
No, German is desirable but not mandatory. You need English at a minimum of C1 level because the training program is in English, and German skills are required only if you choose to write your dissertation in German.
What background do I need to apply?
You need an excellent university degree in Sociology or a comparable social science field, plus relevant previous experience in the sociological analysis of the environment, technology or energy, and/or in Science and Technology Studies.
Who will supervise my doctorate?
Primary supervision will be provided by Prof. Dr. Susann Wagenknecht, Chair of Micro-Sociology and Technosocial Interaction at TUD.
What should my research proposal include?
Your exposé should describe your research project within "Energy Cultures in Transition" in Sociology and include a work and time schedule. It can be at most 20,000 characters long.
How do I submit my application?
Send all documents, including the completed online application form, as one PDF file quoting s26-008, preferably via the TUD SecureMail Portal, or by post to the Schaufler Lab address in Dresden. Applications must arrive by 24 November 2026.
Deadline
⏳ 24 November 2026
Links
🔗 Official call: https://www.verw.tu-dresden.de/StellAus/stelle.asp?id=13051&lang=en
📋 Online application form: https://tu-dresden.de/gsw/schauflerlab/schaufler-kolleg/phase-3/anmeldung-registration
🔒 TUD SecureMail Portal: https://securemail.tu-dresden.de
📧 Application email: schaufler.lab@tu-dresden.de
🛡️ Data protection information: https://tu-dresden.de/karriere/datenschutzhinweis
