The training program aims to provide advanced education and exposure to the frontier of scientific research to doctoral students interested in regional development dynamics and their impact on political attitudes and preferences. Moreover, it offers opportunities to conduct research in an interdisciplinary and international scientific environment, combine theoretical and empirical research by exploiting reach data infrastructure of the SOEP, present the results of this research at international conferences, and build own research agenda for the future career. The program is designed for three years of study and involves mandatory coursework (Methods and Theory classes), participation in research seminars as well as the preparation of a doctoral thesis. Furthermore, it includes the opportunities for acquiring transferable soft skills in specialized workshops.

The Graduate Training Program is embedded in the Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology (BGHS), the Bielefeld Graduate School in Economics and Management (BiGSEM) and the DIW Graduate Center.