ERC Grants

Since the European Research Council was founded in 2007, eleven researchers from the University of Mannheim have been awarded an ERC grant, six of them have received an ERC Starting Grant and five an ERC Consolidator Grant. Currently, four researchers are receiving the prestigious EU grant.

Eine Frau steht vor einer Wand und trägt ein schwarzes Oberteil.

Credit: Alexander Münch

Dr. Keonhi Son

Dr. Keonhi Son has received just under 1.5 million euros in 2026 to investigate the role that female parliamentarians played in the emergence of women’s social and labor rights in advanced capitalist countries.

In her ERC-funded project, Dr. Keonhi Son examines how female parliamentarians shaped the development of women’s rights in 18 countries over nearly a century from 1883 to 1980.

Portrait von Jens Förderer im Anzug. Er steht lächelnd in einem hellen Flur.

Credit: Fotoatelier M. / TUM

Professor Dr. Jens Förderer

Professor Dr. Jens Förderer has been supported with the ERC Starting Grant of 1.5 million euros since 2023.
As part of his project, he is analyzing how European obligations for app marketplace operators affect competition and innovation in app stores.

Professor Jochen Gebauer lächelt in die Kamera. Im Hintergrund ist das Gebäude A5.

Credit: Elisa Berdica

Professor Dr. Jochen E. Gebauer

Professor Dr. Jochen E. Gebauer received a Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) worth around 2 million euros in 2022. He explores the question of what evolutionary advantage humans have from evaluating themselves and others primarily on the basis of agency and communion, the “Big Two”.

Professorin Irena Kogan steht mit rotem Pullover vor einem Bücherregal Porträt.

Credit: Vera Müller

Professor Dr. Irena Kogan

Sociologist Irena Kogan received the ERC Consolidator Grant 2019 for her project on the formation of partnerships among refugees. She wants to find out how newly arrived male refugees in Germany find their partners.