The scholarship provides three years of funding for her doctoral research on urban climate governance.
Julia Sulerz, Hertie School PhD candidate and research associate at the Centre for Sustainability, has been granted a scholarship by the prestigious Heinrich Böll Foundation to support her project “Governance challenges in the local heat transition”. The three-year scholarship provides full funding, allowing her to dedicate herself entirely to her doctoral research.
Beyond financial support, the scholarship offers an extensive academic and professional development programme. Recipients participate in workshops on key research and career skills, as well as debates and seminars addressing topics such as research ethics, academic freedom, and science communication. Julia will also join the Foundation’s socio-ecological transformation cluster, a network connecting early-career scholars working on sustainability and interdisciplinary research.
Having started her PhD in 2024, Julia researches the implementation of local heat planning in Germany, by identifying political, institutional, and administrative factors that shape municipal action. Her work aims to understand how cities can plan and manage the shift to sustainable heating, which is a crucial component in achieving climate neutrality.
Contact
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Jenny Shirar, Centre Manager - Centre for Sustainability
