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19.03.2026
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship and Rising Star Award go to Sabine Volk
Prize and research funding for academic at the Institute for Research on Far-Right Extremism
Dr. Sabine Volk, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Tübingen’s Institute for Research on Far-Right Extremism (IRex), has been awarded one of the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships funded by the European Union. The grant allows Volk to conduct research at the University of Helsinki for two years. In addition, Sabine Volk has received the Rising Star Award 2025 conferred the by the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR). Volk is a member of the IRex research unit that focuses on political actors and ideologies led by Professor Dr. Léonie de Jonge.
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship aims to foster excellence in research and targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to develop their careers abroad. Sabine Volk receives funding for her project “The Translocal Far Right in Europe: Exploring the Mobilization Against ‘Gender’” (REXGEN). In REXGEN, Volk will study far-right mobilisations against gender equality and diversity in Europe. The rising wave of so-called anti-gender activism threatens democratic values and social inclusion, yet its dynamics remain underexplored. Taking a comparative approach, Volk will explore how far-right movements organise locally and transnationally against gender equality and sexual diversity. Using a variety of research methods, she will examine how these groups frame their activism and gain mainstream traction. The project aims to shed light on this evolving form of far-right mobilisation, providing crucial insights for policymakers, civil society, and researchers aiming to counter the far right in Europe. In April 2026, Sabine Volk will take up her work at the Hub on Emotions, Populism and Polarisation (HEPP) at the University of Helsinki under the supervision of Professor Emilia Palonen. During her two-year stay in Finland, Volk will remain an affiliated researcher of the IRex in Tübingen.
ECPR Rising Star Award
The ECPR Rising Star Award aims to recognise the achievements of outstanding early career researchers and to give them the opportunity to develop their network and skills even further. In their laudation, the jury highlighted Sabine Volk’s exceptional academic achievement, profound social engagement, and tireless commitment to the political science community. “Her trajectory is defined by intellectual rigor, innovative research, and a collaborative spirit that enriches the discipline. Her scholarly record is distinguished by depth and timeliness.” The Rising Star Award is presented annually by the ECPR based on nominations; the winner gets a year’s free access to a selection of ECPR events.
IRex / Public Relations Department
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