Irena Kogan receives Baden-Württemberg State Research Prize 2026

Irena Kogan, a member of the Humanities and Social Sciences Class, is being honoured for her internationally recognised basic research into the educational and career opportunities of migrants.

Prof. Dr Irena Kogan is to be awarded the Baden-Württemberg State Research Prize 2026. The prize, which is endowed with 50,000 euros, recognises her internationally acclaimed research into social inequality, migration and transitions from school to work. The award ceremony, to be presided over by Minister for Science Petra Olschowski, will take place on 11 June 2026 in Stuttgart.

Prof. Dr Irena Kogan (University of Mannheim) researches the educational and career opportunities of migrants. At the Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES), she leads the European Research Council-funded project ‘Partnership Formation among Refugees in Germany’ (PARFORM), which examines partnership processes in the context of unequal gender ratios and pronounced cultural and social distance. Her research provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with migration and integration, thereby contributing to the development of effective strategies for a more inclusive society.

The Baden-Württemberg State Research Prize is awarded every two years in recognition of outstanding scientific achievements across all disciplines. Laureates come from a variety of fields – ranging from biology and philology to public finance. As the most highly endowed research prize awarded by a federal state, 100,000 euros is awarded to one researcher in basic research and one scientist in applied research.