We invite applications for 7 doctoral scholarships
The Institute for Employment Research (IAB) and the School of Business, Economics and Society of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) offer a joint doctoral programme in labour market research in cooperation with TU Dortmund. GradAB is an interdisciplinary and flexible structured programme. The courses provide high-level training on economic and sociological labour market and social policy research, on methods, and data. Quantitative as well as qualitative approaches are welcome. For the first time, GradAB offers two additional scholarships for candidates with a qualitative research approach.
We aim for equal opportunities and work-life balance!
Doctoral students benefit from:
- a professional research and policy-consulting environment in one of the key institutions advising high-ranking social policymakers,
- IAB’s large network of renowned national and international universities, research and policy institutions,
- IAB’s unique data resources on employment and social security (administrative and survey data)
The scholarship provides financial support of 1,600 euros per month plus 1,800 euros per year for participation in scientific conferences and further training. Extra support for research visits is available. In addition, most of our GradAB participants work as junior researchers on a 26 % position in one of IAB’s research departments (employment subject to social insurance contributions/ minimum 1,105 euros per month). Please note however that the IAB does not guarantee the availability of any vacant job positions at the start of the programme.
We invite applications from outstanding graduates in the fields of economics, sociology, survey statistics or other social sciences who hold a master’s degree and have a strong interest in labour market research.
If applicants are otherwise equally qualified, female applicants will be given preference.
Applications from persons with disabilities
The IAB aims at increasing the share of doctoral students with disabilities. For this reason, applications from disabled persons are highly welcome.
Application documents
Application documents should include:
- Application form
- Complete, tabular CV
- Copies of school-leaving certificates and certificates of vocational training and professional activities, copies of university certificates already attained
- A reference letter from a professor with respect to personal and academic qualification of the applicant. The letter of recommendation must be submitted to the programme coordinator directly (apply.gradab@iab.de).
- An outline of the project describing the fundamental, perhaps preliminary ideas of the dissertation proposal. The project outline submitted in English should be between 10,000 and 20,000 characters long, including spaces and the list of cited literature. The following points can provide a basic overview:
- Providing reasons for selecting the topic, and determining its place in current labour market research
- Illustrating major problems and issues of the project in the field of labour market research
- Providing a (non-exhaustive) list of relevant literature
- Considerations regarding the theoretical approach, the methodology of project implementation, and the data to be used (e.g. IAB data sets)
- Documentation of the FDZ data sets can help in deciding on data research and preparing the project outline
Please note that applications without the project outline will not be considered!
Selection process
- All applications will be submitted to a selection commission composed equally of representatives of the IAB and the School of Business, Economics and Society of the University Erlangen-Nuremberg.
- Outstanding applicants will be invited to a personal interview with members of the selection commission. An online interview is possible. The interview will involve a short presentation of the planned idea of the project, followed by a discussion.
- Based on the written documents and personal presentation, the selection committee will decide on scholarship offers and inform the applicants.
Schedule 2024/2025
- Commencement of the programme: 1 October 2025
- Maximum programme duration: Up to 4 years
- Application deadline: 16 March 2025
- Personal interviews: April/May 2025
Co-operation partner
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU): www.fau.eu
Technische Universität Dortmund (TUD): www.tu-dortmund.de
GradAB coordination
Email: apply.gradab@iab.de
Further information
Website of the Graduate Programme of the Institute for Employment Research