Thomas Faist

Thomas Faist is a Professor of Sociology of Transnationalization, Migration and Development Sociology at Bielefeld University's Faculty of Sociology. He has held this position since October 2004 and previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Sociology from 2013-2016. His academic work focuses on transnational migration processes, citizenship studies, and the socio-ecological dimensions of migration. Faist is actively involved in numerous research projects funded by the German Research Council and European Union.

His educational background includes a PhD in Political Science from The Graduate Faculty, New School for Social Research, New York (1992), an MA in Political Science from the University of Tübingen (1986), and a Habilitation in Political Science from the University of Bremen (1999).

Faist's research interests center on international migration, citizenship, transnationalization, and the socio-ecological question. He has pioneered work on the transnational social question, examining how migration reproduces social inequalities in the context of climate change. His recent work focuses on climate-related (im)mobility, transnational social protection, and the externalization of migration control. Faist employs transnational methodologies to overcome methodological nationalism in migration research.

His extensive publication record shows consistent focus on migration theory, transnational social spaces, and the intersection of migration with social inequality and environmental change. Recent articles demonstrate growing emphasis on climate migration, loneliness among international students, and methodological innovations in transnational research.

• Exit. Warum Menschen aufbrechen listed as Science Book 2023
• Member, North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts (2020)
• Albert Salomon Memorial Award for Outstanding Dissertation (1992)
• Elinor Goldmarck Black Fellow and Alvin Johnson Dissertation Fellowship (1991-1992)

Faist has supervised over 25 doctoral students to completion and currently directs multiple major research projects including 'Civil Society Integration through Conflict?' (DFG, 2021-2025) and 'Transnational Mobility and Social Positions in the European Union' (DFG, 2016-2022). He serves on numerous international advisory boards and has led significant collaborative research initiatives across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Faist also coordinates international programs including the MA Sociology International Track and a double degree program with the University of Bologna.