Steffen Schindler

Prof. Dr. Steffen Schindler is a Professor of Sociology with a focus on education and work over the life course at the University of Bamberg since 2016, having previously held a Junior Professorship there (2013–2016). He studied social sciences at the Universities of Stuttgart and Mannheim, earning his doctorate in 2012.

His research centers on educational and labor market sociology, with a particular emphasis on social inequality in educational attainment, transitions from education to the labor market, and labor market returns to education. His recent publications analyze educational tracking, alternative pathways to higher education eligibility, and long-term labor market outcomes using data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) and comparative international frameworks.

In recent years, Schindler has contributed extensively to understanding diversion processes in secondary education, social selectivity in university transitions, and gender-specific disparities in educational and career trajectories. His work spans cross-national comparisons (Germany, UK, Italy, France, etc.) and longitudinal studies tracking cohorts over decades.

Scientific awards and grants:

• Fritz Thyssen Foundation Research Fellowship

Current affiliations:

• University of Bamberg (Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics, and Business Administration)
• Contributor to the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) and DIAL Working Paper Series