Tim Clausnitzer

Tim Clausnitzer is a Researcher at the Department of Technology and Innovation Sociology, part of the Faculty VI: Planning, Building, Environment at the Technical University of Berlin. Since 2024, he has been a research associate in the DFG-funded project 'SoCoRob II,' focusing on the digitalization of the working world. His work spans sociotechnical action distribution, collaborative robotics, and configurational technologies.

• Current research: DFG Priority Program 'Digitalization of the Working World' (2024–2026)
• Mercator Fellow at the University of Edinburgh (2023–2024)
• Organized international workshops on robotics and digitalization

Education:

• Master's in Sociology with a Technical Sector (2017–2020, TU Berlin)
• Bachelor's in Sociology (2013–2017, TU Berlin/Karl-Franzens-University Graz)

Research Focus: Clausnitzer explores the interplay between humans and collaborative robots (cobots) in industrial and care contexts, emphasizing distributed action, narrative-driven innovation, and the challenges of translating prototypical scenarios into real-world applications. His work bridges sociology, robotics, and digital labor studies.

Scientific Contributions: He analyzes the social construction of robotics through prototyping, critiques the self-perpetuation of technological promises, and investigates socio-technical alignment in automation. Key subfields include configurational technologies, innovation intermediaries, and scenario-based development.

Recognition:

• Mercator Fellowship for interdisciplinary robotics research (2023–2024)

Collaborations: Clausnitzer frequently collaborates with Kevin Wiggert, Ingo Schulz-Schaeffer, and Martin Meister, co-authoring studies on robotic narratives, distributed agency, and automation dynamics. He has presented at conferences in Madrid, Melbourne, and Edinburgh.