Career Clusters

Regional, professional and scientific networking - that is the goal of the Career Clusters at TH Köln. Like in research clusters, scientists unite in interdisciplinary subject groups between basic and applied research with colleagues from regional universities, associations, institutes or research centers. A central concern: the integration of mid-level faculty. In the future, further project ideas and publications are expected to emerge from the Career Clusters and third-party funding is to be acquired so that the exchange can be consolidated.

The Career Clusters are part of the project "Rethinking Professorship Careers at Universities of Applied Sciences: Collaboration and Networking" (PLan_CV). For their successful implementation, 20,000 euros in annual funding are available until the end of 2026 for meetings, workshops, retreats and scientific conferences.

Four Career Clusters have been established:

„Die Öffentlichkeit der Kultur“ (The publicity of culture)

Although cultural scientists look at socio-critical aspects in their research, there has been a lack of projects that bring together individual perspectives. This is where the Career Cluster comes in. It connects researchers from TH Köln, the University of Cologne and the Academy of Media Arts. The scientists want to identify application possibilities and transfer perspectives of practice-oriented cultural studies through scientific conferences, exhibitions and publications.

The speaker of the Career Cluster is Prof. Dr. Carolin Höfler.

„Soziale Netzwerke und soziale Ungleichheit“ (Social Networks and Social Inequality)

How well people cope with challenges depends on the personal networks they can build on. The extent to which such relationships, and thus the chance of participation, health, or professional success, can differ has been well studied. What is unclear so far is where these differences come from. In order to understand and overcome causes, the Career Cluster "Social Networks and Social Inequality" brings together researchers from TH Köln, the University of Cologne and Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences and initiates further collaborations. The Career Cluster is a forum for scientists at all career levels.

The speakers of the Career Cluster are Dr. Philip Roth (TH Köln) and Prof. Dr. Lea Ellwardt (University of Cologne).

"Metamaterialien" (Metamaterials)

Materials are facing challenges such as digitalization, big data or climate change. Metamaterials can help. They are artificially produced and develop advantageous properties for self-regulation, e.g. under shock loads. However, there is a lack of systematic design methodology, i.e. predictions on the resilience of metamaterials. To close this research gap, researchers from the University of Siegen and TH Köln have joined forces. They combine expertise from materials science, manufacturing technology, modeling and simulation. Particular attention is paid to networking and qualification of young scientists.

The speaker of the Career Cluster is Prof. Dr. Marcel Walkowiak.

Kick off to the Career Cluster „Metamaterialien“ (Image: privat)

„Game Studies at the Museum“

It is not for the first time that museums have faced the challenge of combining new technologies with established ways of working. Nevertheless, the use of playful forms in exhibitions has not been sufficiently studied. In order to create common foundations and to research the topic in an application-oriented way, the cluster will network key players from science and museum practice. In cooperation with museums and other cultural institutions, and with the special involvement of early stage researchers, they will develop questions that open up a space for joint research projects and the acquisition of third party funding.

The speakers of the Career Cluster are Dr. Philipp Bojahr and Prof. Dr. Gundolf S. Freyermuth.