Research assistant
Ronny Ehlen has been a research assistant at the Chair of Sociology at the University of Hohenheim since December 2019. Since October 2020, he has also been the coordinator of the UHOH research priority “Work, Digitalization and Sustainability”. From 2018 to 2019, he was a research associate at the Chair of Sociology with a focus on the sociology of work and organizations at the University of Trier. In 2024, he received his doctorate (Dr. rer. soc.) from the University of Hohenheim with the distinction summa cum laude.
His research focuses on the role of work in the twin transformation, that is, the interrelated digital and sustainability transformations. In particular, he concentrates on the circular economy as well as the handling of food waste in the retail food sector. From a theoretical perspective, his work mainly engages with valuation studies, organizational paradoxes, and psychological contracts.
He also brings his research into his teaching, especially in the master’s courses “New Employment Relationships”, “Economy, Change and Society”, and “Work, Digitalization and Sustainability”. In addition, he supervises bachelor’s and master’s theses.
Research Focus:
- Economic sociology, sociology of work and organizational sociology
- Organizational paradoxes, valuation studies, psychological contracts
- Work in the twin transformation, circular economy, food waste in food retail
Projects:
- 2020–2026: UHOH research priority “Work, Digitalization and Sustainability” (Scientific Manager: Caroline Ruiner; Program Manager: Ronny Ehlen)
- 2018–2023: “Between Cooperation and Competition – External Workers in Knowledge-Intensive Fields of Employment” (Project leaders: Birgit Apitzsch, Maximiliane Wilkesmann, Caroline Ruiner)
