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• develop and implement your research project and complete a report and/or journal articles on the result
• build up your own research profile
• participate actively in the regular meetings of the RTG
• contribute to the creation of a team of exciting interdisciplinary doctoral researchers
• participate actively and regularly in the courses and events of the qualification programme
• contribute to the further development of the RTG qualification programme
• have your place of residence in Bielefeld or Duisburg, and be present in the office space provided 
• indicate the membership of the RTG and the source of financial support in publications and any other presentations and outreach activities originating from research projects undertaken within the RTG.

All applications should contain the following supporting materials:

• letter of motivation with reference to the Research Training Group and the names of three possible supervisors from the group of participating researchers in the order of your preference
• CV
• abstract of the planned project (max. 200 words)
• 3–5 pages research proposal for a dissertation project
• submission of a sample of your work, e.g. a term paper or selected chapters of your master’s thesis 
• university degree documents.

Applications are to be submitted in English. 

Applicants are asked to review the research profiles of the participating faculty members (https://rtg2951.de) and to name in their cover letter and in order of preference three possible supervisors for their proposed project.

In order to be eligible, candidates must fulfil all eligibility criteria:

• Applicants should be in possession of a university degree (M.A., M.Sc. or equivalent) in Sociology, Economics, Social Anthropology, or a related social science with excellent results
• Particular emphasis will be put on the topic, applied theories and methodologies of their master’s thesis, which should be in line with the research programme of the RTG and have received excellent grades
• Candidates must write a research proposal of three to five pages elaborating a research idea that directly addresses the research programme of the RTG 2951, as well as a letter of motivation demonstrating their eagerness to participate in the RTG and their willingness to actively contribute to all RTG activities
• Applicants must have excellent command of both spoken and written English, the latter to be demonstrated by submission of a writing sample 
• Preference will be given to applicants with theoretical and methodological competencies relevant to the research programme, and – possibly – with preliminary research experience (e.g. as student assistants or participants in research trainings/seminars) 
• Applicants must fulfil the admission criteria for PhD programs at Bielefeld University and the University of Duisburg-Essen
• Candidates must be willing to relocate to one of the RTG localities – Bielefeld or Duisburg-Essen, and are expected to be present in the office space provided

1. Publication of Call for Applications: August 15, 2025
2. Deadline of Application: October 1, 2025
3. Eligibility check and formal pre-selection (until late October, 2025)

In order to be eligible for application, candidates must fulfil all of the eligibility criteria listed above. Applications that do not pass the eligibility check will not be considered further. Subsequently, a first evaluation takes the quality of the proposal, the applicant's track record, and the suitability of the research proposal to the RTG into consideration.

4. Internal assessment and reviews by the PIs (until early November, 2025)

The remaining applications will be subject to review by two PIs each. Those suggested by both reviewers for further consideration will be discussed among the group of all PIs to decide whom to invite for interview. Decisions will be made by majority vote.

5. Interviews of the applicants (late November - early December)

In the final round, interviews will be conducted online via Zoom by the whole selection board. Interviews will be conducted in English. PIs will discuss with the candidates’ questions relating to their proposal that came up during the review process, and candidates will be asked to elaborate on their expectations of conducting a dissertation project within an RTG. Candidates will also be informed of the RTG’s expectations regarding their contributions.

6. Final selection of researchers by the PIs/Decision by the selection board (mid December, 2025)

In the final step, the selection board discusses all internally assessed applications. Please note that the selection board has access to all applications, even to those that have not passed the eligibility check. The selection board will meet to decide which candidates will be offered the doctoral researcher positions. 

7. Start of employment contract: April 1, 2026

Doctoral Researchers profit from all support measures available at the RTG:

• Employment contracts at 75% of full-time researcher positions (TV-L E13) for a four year duration. 
• Financial support for conference travel and research stays abroad, as well as for organizing their own workshops
• Non-monetary support for coaching, professional career counselling or transferrable skills workshops and seminars offered by GrACe | Graduate Centre at Bielefeld University and the Graduate Center Plus at the University of Duisburg-Essen, as well as the Research Academy Ruhr, a joint platform for promoting early-career researchers within the University Alliance Ruhr with partners in Bochum and Dortmund  
• Female researchers are eligible for additional funding of equal opportunity measures, including coaching and professional career counselling and benefit from mentoring programmes for female early career researchers at both UBi and UDE
• Researchers with child and other care obligations can benefit from a range of equal opportunity and support measures such as comprehensive childcare services, family service offices, dual career services, flexible working hours, child and dependent adult care counselling, and a programme to support the compatibility of family and career
• Both universities have well-established Welcome Centres (Bielefeld, Duisburg-Essen) that support international researchers with a wide range of information on issues such as accommodation, visa requirements, health insurance, etc.

The RTG is committed to preparing its doctoral and postdoctoral graduates for high-profile careers in academia and beyond. To foster their career prospects, the RTG qualification programme, besides offering all qualification measures necessary for academic careers, also provides insights into possible occupations outside academia and provides competences relevant to different future occupations.

In order to support the most promising doctoral researchers in developing a postdoctoral career in academia, the RTG offers start-up funding for one doctoral graduate for each cohort. 

Doctoral researchers who do not succeed in obtaining start-up funding from the RTG can apply for a 12-month bridge fellowship financed by Bielefeld University’s Rectorate or the Seed Funding for postdocs financed by the University of Duisburg-Essen. 

In order to support those doctoral researchers who are considering non-university careers, Fireside Talks will be organized on a regular basis, alternating between Bielefeld and Duisburg-Essen, to which representatives of relevant organizations that are potential employers will be invited. In addition, these doctoral researchers will have the opportunity to participate in the BGHS scheme and UDE Graduate Centre Plus offerings on non-university careers. 

Both participating universities offer career counselling and support tailored to early-career scholars.