Soziologie

From 27 April to 15 June 2026, I had the opportunity to spend seven weeks as a Visiting Doctoral Researcher at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow. As a PhD researcher in Labor Economics and Migration Economics at the Research Training Group (RTG) 2951, Cross-Border Labour Markets: Transnational Market Makers, Infrastructures, Institutions, University of Duisburg-Essen, this research stay provided an excellent opportunity to advance my research while experiencing a highly international academic environment.

Hosted by Professor Michele Battisti in the Department of Economics, I continued working on my research project “The Labor Market Effect of Cross-Border Commuters: Evidence from EU Enlargement,” and benefited from regular discussions with faculty members and fellow researchers. These exchanges provided valuable feedback, helping me refine my research and consider new perspectives.

The research stay was made possible through the support of the Research Training Group (RTG) 2951, Cross-Border Labour Markets: Transnational Market Makers, Infrastructures, Institutions, where I started as one of the two doctoral researchers from economics in the first cohort in April 2024. Within the RTG's interdisciplinary environment, I pursue my doctoral research in economics, in the fields of Labor Economics and Migration Economics. As part of its interdisciplinary lecture series, RTG 2951 had previously invited Professor Michele Battisti as a guest lecturer and had thus initiated this cooperation with the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow.

A particular highlight was presenting my research during a PhD reading group session at the Adam Smith Business School. The constructive comments and engaging discussion offered valuable insights that helped me further improve my project, through refining my research questions and strengthening the overall direction of my project.

In addition to my own research, I attended several seminars and workshops organized by the department. One of the highlights was the Advanced Workshop on Contemporary Causal Panel Methods, delivered by Professor Scott Cunningham from 18 to 22 May 2026. The workshop introduced modern causal inference methods that are highly relevant for empirical research in labor economics and provided practical insights that I look forward to applying in my own work.

Beyond the academic activities, I greatly appreciated the welcoming and collaborative research culture at the University of Glasgow. The excellent library and study spaces provided an ideal environment for productive research and academic exchange.

Living in Glasgow was another rewarding aspect of the experience. The city's rich history, vibrant cultural life, and friendly atmosphere made it an enjoyable place to live during my stay. Experiencing a different academic and cultural environment broadened my perspective both personally and professionally.

Overall, this research stay strengthened my research skills, expanded my academic network, and provided valuable methodological insights that will benefit the remainder of my PhD and my future research. I would highly recommend an international research stay to other doctoral researchers, as it offers not only academic development but also the opportunity to build international collaborations and gain new perspectives.