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.

7 DOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIPS

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 1,650 €/month plus a monthly research cost allowance of 130 € 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 1,220 € gross salary /month).

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.

The IAB aims at increasing the share of doctoral students with disabilities. For this reason, applications from persons with disabilities are highly welcome.

BEGINNING
1 October 2026
MAXIMUM DURATION
up to 4 years
APPLICATION
Please submit your application in English by 15 March 2026
CONTACT
Dr Sandra Huber, GradAB coordinator Email: apply.gradab@iab.de
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.iab.de/en/gradab