TransforM Seed Fund: Doctoral and Postdoctoral Researcher Positions (2026) The DFG Cluster of Excellence TransforM – Munich Center for Transformative Technologies and Societal Change is inviting applications for up to 20 Seed Grants to support doctoral and postdoctoral researchers for a period of up to 12 months. These short-term research positions are designed to enable early-career researchers to develop independent, competitive research proposals and submit them to external funding bodies. About the TransforM Seed Fund The TransforM Seed Fund is a targeted funding initiative that supports promising early-career researchers at a critical stage in their academic trajectory. The programme provides time, resources, and structured mentoring to help researchers transform a strong research idea into a fully developed proposal for third-party funding. During the seed funding period, awardees are expected to prepare and submit applications to external funding organisations. In the event of a successful application, both the researcher and the project will remain affiliated with the TransforM Cluster. Expected outcomes include: Doctoral researchers:Development and submission of an externally funded PhD scholarship or project proposal (e.g. German Academic Scholarship Foundation, DAAD, foundations, or within ongoing TransforM PI projects). Postdoctoral researchers:Preparation and submission of a third-party funded research proposal, including funding for their own position (e.g. DFG, BMBF, Volkswagen Foundation, or similar). The ideal start date for the seed fund positions is March 2026. About TransforM TransforM – the Munich Center for Transformative Technologies and Societal Change is a newly established social science research cluster funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy. The cluster addresses the dual challenge of: Advancing fundamental social science research in highly technologised societies Rethinking technology development through a rigorous social science lens TransforM focuses on understanding how, why, and when technologies become socially transformative, from early emergence through to long-term socio-economic impacts. The cluster is anchored at Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU) and is embedded in Munich’s internationally recognised innovation ecosystem. Partner institutions include leading non-university research organisations such as the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, the ifo Institute, ZEW, the Deutsches Museum, and UnternehmerTUM. What TransforM Offers Successful applicants will benefit from: Up to 12 months of seed funding at TUM or a TransforM partner organisation Employment under TV-L conditions, based on experience and qualification level Typically 0.75 TV-L E13 for doctoral positions Typically 1.0 TV-L E13 for postdoctoral positions Structured mentoring and proposal development support by TransforM Principal Investigators Integration into TransforM project groups and PI networks Access to workshops, seminars, proposal coaching, and professional development activities Participation in a highly interdisciplinary research community focused on technology and societal change Research Focus and Thematic Priorities TransforM welcomes applications from across the social sciences and humanities, particularly projects aligned with its research mission and priorities, including: TransforM Focus Areas Opportunity & Design Complexity & Resilience Justice & Equity Responsibility & Legitimacy Trust & Governance TransforM Nexus Infrastructures Public Technology Lab Real-Time Response Team Startup & Industrial Exchange Hub Transformative Technology Observatory Candidate Profile and Qualifications Doctoral Seed Grant Applicants Completed or near-completed Master’s degree in social sciences or humanities, including (but not limited to): Science and Technology Studies (STS) Political Science Economics Management Public Policy Innovation Studies Sociology, Anthropology, Geography, Law, History of Science Applicants from other disciplines must demonstrate sufficient relevant qualification Postdoctoral Seed Grant Applicants Completed or submitted PhD dissertation in a relevant social science or humanities field Applicants from outside the social sciences/humanities must demonstrate strong subject-specific expertise Additional strengths include: Strong theoretical and methodological grounding Experience researching technology-related social issues International academic experience Ability to work in collaborative, interdisciplinary environments Existing (but not required) connections to TransforM Principal Investigators Application Process Application Deadline: 23 January 2026Interviews: Conducted within two weeks after the deadlineExpected Start Date: March 2026 Applicants must submit a single PDF via email to karolina.knittel@tum.de with the subject line:“TransforM Seed Fund Application” The application must include: Short cover letter (maximum 1 page), indicating the targeted external funding call if known Curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages) Proposal sketch using the official template:https://transform-cluster.de/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TransforM-Seed-Fund-Project-Template.docx Names and brief descriptions of 1–2 references Optional: relevant certificates Selection Criteria Applications will be evaluated based on: Quality, originality, and feasibility of the proposed research Alignment with TransforM’s mission and thematic priorities Fit with ongoing research by TransforM Principal Investigators Potential to secure external funding within 12 months Academic excellence and career trajectory Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion TransforM is strongly committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Applications from individuals from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds are explicitly encouraged. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference when qualifications are equivalent, and applications from women are particularly welcomed in line with TUM’s gender equality goals. Contact Information For questions about the Seed Fund, please contact:contact@transform-cluster.de LEARN MORE HERE Cluster Leadership:Prof. Dr. Sebastian Pfotenhauer (Speaker)Dr. Caitlin Corrigan (Managing Director)Technical University of Munich – TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the fellowship organization. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. 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