Melanie Jaeger-Erben

Prof. Dr. Melanie Jaeger-Erben is a Professor of Sociology of Technology and Environmental Engineering at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg since 2021. Previously, she led the Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research in Electronics group at TU Berlin. Her work focuses on socio-ecological transformations, circular economy, and sustainable consumption practices. She holds affiliations with institutions such as the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) and the German Federal Environment Agency's Resources Commission.

Education:

• Bachelor/Master in Psychology and Sociology (Universities of Göttingen and Uppsala)
• Postgraduate in Qualitative Social and Educational Research (Magdeburg, 2009)
• Doctorate in Sociology (TU Berlin, 2010)

Research Interests: Her research explores how societal practices and technological systems can support sustainability transitions. Key areas include circular economy implementation, consumer behavior influencing product longevity, and transdisciplinary methodologies to address socio-ecological challenges. She emphasizes the interplay between material flows, cultural norms, and policy frameworks.

Key Roles:

• Member of the Expert Commission for Germany's Fourth Gender Equality Report
• Co-leader of the ESYS working group on Energy Transition in Built Environments
• Board Member at the Institute for Social Innovation (ISInova)
• Associate Editor of Sociology and Sustainability and GAIA

Grants & Labs: Engaged in projects like the Bauwelt 4 Future initiative promoting participatory climate action. Active in citizen science projects analyzing emissions and repair practices. Collaborates with the Circular Economy Initiative Germany (CEID) on business model innovations.

Labs/Teams: Leads research groups in transdisciplinary sustainability at BTU and co-designs circular society frameworks through multi-stakeholder collaborations.