New Get-iT Fellowships awarded by Prof. Dr Sylvia Heuchemer

On 24 March 2026, the fellowships advertised as part of the university-wide project ‘Get-iT@TH Köln – Gender Aspects in Research and Transfer’, funded by the BMFTR, were officially awarded at a ceremony by the President and project leader, Prof. Dr Sylvia Heuchemer.

The call for applications for the fellowships was open to all researchers at TH Köln, regardless of discipline, experience or career stage, and focused on the integration of (intersectional) gender aspects into research projects. The fellows will receive funding of 6,000 euros to free up time to give greater consideration to gender aspects in their research and to familiarise themselves with new areas of study.

The award ceremony, attended by academics from all twelve faculties as well as interested parties from various departments at TH Köln and other universities, began with opening remarks by Prof. Dr Sylvia Heuchemer. In her welcoming address, the President focused on the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Cologne’s role as a civil society actor, which, through initiatives such as the Get-iT@TH Köln project, is sending a clear signal of its commitment to helping shape social change.

The subsequent keynote address by Dr Corinna Bath, coordinator of the Network for Women’s and Gender Studies in North Rhine-Westphalia, highlighted the importance of gender studies for research – particularly in more technical disciplines. Using the example of a doctoral programme she helped to design, Dr Corinna Bath emphasised the importance of forums for exchange – such as those created by the Get-iT Fellowship Network – for interdisciplinary gender studies.

The official part of the event concluded with the awarding of the new fellowships. A total of 15 researchers from seven faculties were selected for these by an external panel following a competitive selection process.

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming the new fellows and to an exciting exchange within a growing network of fellows. The new fellowships also reflect the ability and willingness to expand established traditions of thought and research. This is a process that is already clearly underway at our university, extending beyond the social sciences,” said Prof. Dr Inken Lind, academic director of the Get-iT project.

The following were selected:

• Dr Nolwenn Bernard – Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering
• Prof. Dr Claudia Frick – Faculty of Information and Communication Sciences
• Bianca Griech – Faculty of Plant, Energy and Mechanical Systems
• Dr Eva-Maria Grommes – Faculty of Plant, Energy and Mechanical Systems
• Fabian Haak – Faculty of Information and Communication Sciences
• Dr Lea Hartmann – Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences
• Prof. Dr Matthias Hochgürtel – Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences
• Prof. Dr Laura Popplow – Faculty of Cultural Studies
• Prof. Dr Ivonne Preusser – Faculty of Information and Communication Sciences
• Louisa Rinsdorf – Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering
• Prof. Dr Frank Schimmel – Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering
• Dr Alexandra Schreiner – Faculty of Vehicle Systems and Production
• Prof. Dr Daniel Thiemann – Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering
• Prof. Dr Frederic Vobbe – Faculty of Applied Social Sciences
• Dr Dan Zhu – Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering

We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the new fellows on the research project!