The ProSkills2Work ERA Chair Group will be expanded over 2025 / 2026 to include six new members – external to the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology (IPS) and having had no previous contractual links with it: one senior researcher, two post-doctoral researchers, and three PhD students.
A Selection Committee of three senior IPS scientists and three internationally renowned external academicians was formed in April 2025 to conduct the sourcing and selection process of suitable candidates. The new ERA Chair Group positions will be advertised nationally and internationally from June 2025 onwards.
The Selection Committee is chaired by Prof. Christian Imdorf, the Proskills2Work ERA Chair Holder, and includes:
Prof. Vassil Kirov in his roles of Deputy Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology in Sofia, Bulgaria and ProSkills2Work Project Coordinator
Prof. Emeritus Pepka Boyadjieva from the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology in Sofia, Bulgaria – also a ProSkills2Work Advisory Board Member – focus on sociology of education and educational equalities, social justice in education, transition from education to work, and lifelong learning – https://ips-bas.org/en/staf/pepka-boyadjieva/
Prof. Irene Kriesi from the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET) – expert in vocational education training and a life course sociologist with quantitative research profile – https://www.sfuvet.swiss/person/kriesi-irene
Assoc. Prof. Rebecca Ye from the University of Stockholm, Sweden – sociologist of education, transitions and trajectories from education to work with qualitative research profile and mixed methods expertise – https://www.su.se/english/profiles/rye-1.194127?open-collapse-boxes=body-research
Prof. Michael Gebel from the University of Bamberg, Germany – sociologist of work and employment, comparative youth transition research with special expertise on Easter Europe, quantitative research profile – https://www.uni-bamberg.de/en/sociology/chairs-and-professorships/social-empirical-research/team/prof-dr-michael-gebel/
