PhD program
The AKTANTEN Project invites researchers, practitioners, and postgraduate students to contribute to its growing research and innovation platform on capacity building for the energy transition, with a regional focus on Aktau, Kazakhstan and surrounding Central Asian regions.
This call aims to support interdisciplinary exchange and innovative research addressing the human, institutional, and technological dimensions of the green energy transformation.
Suggested Research Topics Include (but are not limited to):
- Logistics and the Caspian Corridor: Infrastructure, transportation, and supply chain dynamics of green hydrogen in the Caspian region.
- Green Hydrogen Technologies: Innovations in production, storage, and utilization of hydrogen in various sectors.
- Business Partnerships: Collaboration between industry players, investors, and policymakers to drive green hydrogen initiatives. Financing models and public-private partnerships for renewable infrastructure deployment.
- Socio-Economic and Governance Perspectives:
- Policy frameworks and regulatory strategies for enabling large-scale energy transition.
- Social acceptance and behavioural studies related to hydrogen and renewables.
Target Contributors:
- PhD students working on hydrogen economy, sustainability, and energy.
- Early-career researchers exploring energy systems, socio-technical transition, and innovation.
- Interdisciplinary scholars from engineering, economics, environmental sciences, and social sciences.
Scholarships & Supervision Opportunities
As part of the AKTANTEN capacity-building efforts, selected candidates will be eligible to:
- Apply for research scholarships supported by German or international funding institutions
- Be Supervised and mentored by experienced professors and researchers from German universities, including from TU Berlin, FU Berlin, and other partner institutions.
- Participate in supervised short-term research stays in Germany (subject to funding availability).
- Receive letters of recommendation and support for Master or PhD applications in the field of sustainable energy systems, engineering, or policy.
Submission Format:
Abstract (300–500 words) outlining research question, methodology, and expected contribution
Contact & Submission:
Send your abstract and supporting documents to:
naimeh.mohammadi@tu-berlin.de
PhD match making event was held on the 17th of September 2025. The invitees of this event were master’s students from universities, as well as researchers from institutions and energy companies in Aktau, along with several PhD students interested in research opportunities or co-supervision with German universities.
The event was held online and with 35 participants who were eager to get to know the professors and explore potential collaborations — for example, as PhD candidates, external researchers, joint research partners, or through other forms of cooperation, including informal exchange or co-supervision. Professor from the Technical University of Berlin presented their chairs, research focuses, and the requirements for joining TU Berlin as a PhD student. The full presentation and introduction of the PhD program and professors at the Chair of Work, Technology, and Participation at TU Berlin can be found on this page.
Professors from the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) also presented their research interests and introduced the Competence Center for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency (CC4E).
