Paula Protsch

Paula Protsch is a Research Professor affiliated with the University of Cologne, holding roles as a guest researcher in the Research Professorship Work, Family and Social Inequality. Her work focuses on vocational education, labor markets, and social stratification. Previously, she served as a Research Fellow at the Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB) in departments like Skill Formation and Labor Markets. She earned a Dr. phil. in Sociology from Freie Universität Berlin, winning prestigious awards including the Ernst Reuter Award and Friedrich Edding Award for her doctoral work on vocational education.

Her research explores youth labor market dynamics, apprenticeship systems, and employer hiring practices, with a focus on social inequality. Notable projects include analyzing recruitment behaviors in vocational training and regional labor market structures. She has held visiting scholar positions at Yale University and the University of Sydney, and received a fellowship from the College for Interdisciplinary Educational Research (CIDER).

Protsch's publications span academic journals like Acta Sociologica, Journal of Education and Work, and European Sociological Review, addressing topics such as overeducation, labor market mobility, and dual education systems. Her work informs policy debates on vocational training and youth employment.

• Key Awards: Ernst Reuter Award, Friedrich Edding Award, CIDER Fellowship
• Grants/Projects: DFG-funded research on apprenticeship recruitment, PIAAC-Leibniz Network on labor market mismatch
• Labs/Teams: WZB Research Department, University of Cologne Research Professorship