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Dana Tholen, M.A.

Dana Tholen has been research fellow at the Chair of Sociology - Transnationalisation, Migration and Work since October 2022. She researches and teaches at the interface of sociology of labour and migration on the topics of transnational labour markets, migrant labour and the relationship between trade unions and migration. In doing so, she works primarily with qualitative social research methods. Specifically, she is interested in the conditions of migrant labour between border regime and precarization in Germany and the possibilities of unionization in migrant-dominated sectors. Her dissertation examines working conditions in the courier, express and parcel delivery sector and explores strategies and perspectives of union organizing efforts there.

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ResearchGate

Research Fellow | Sociology / Transnationalization, Migration and Work

Email-icon dana.tholen[at]rub.de 

Contact-book-line-icon Ruhr-Universität Bochum | Faculty of Social Science | Building GD E1-317 - Technical No. 74 | D-44780 Bochum | Phone: +49 (0)234 / 32-24067

Peoples-group-icon Office hours: appointment via e-mail, in presence or by zoom, building GD E1-311


  • Since July 2023, Ph.D. candidate at the chair of Sociology / Transnationalisation, Migration and Work.
  • 2019 – 2022 Master's Programme Social Sciences, TU Braunschweig
  • 2018 Semester abroad at the Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago de Chile
  • 2015 – 2019 Bachelor's Programme Integrated Social Sciences, TU Braunschweig


  • Since 10/2022 Research Fellow at the Chair of Sociology – Transnationalization, Migration and Work at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Chair holder Prof. Dr. Margit Fauser
  • 2021 – 2022 Student assistant at the Chair of Sociology – Work and Organization, TU Braunschweig
  • 2019 – 2020 Student assistant in the project "QuartierMobil" at the Chair of Comparative Politics and Policy Analysis, TU Braunschweig
  • 2016 – 2017 Student assistant at the Chair of Comparative Politics and Policy Analysis, TU Braunschweig


  • 07/2024 "Gewerkschaftliche Positionierungen zu migrantischer Arbeit im Kontext von Fragmentierung und Prekarisierung: Eine Analyse der Paketlieferbranche.", AIS-Frühjahrstagung "Migration und Arbeit - Aktuelle Forschungen, methodische Reflexionen und theoretische Implikationen", Osnabrück (online).
  • 04/2024 "Union Positioning toward Fragmentation and Precarisation in migrant-dominated sectors: Evidence from the Parcel Delivery Services", 42nd International Labour Process Conference 2024 (ILPC) "Coercion, Consent and Conflict in the Labour Process and Beyond", Göttingen.


On the Last Mile.

Organizing Strategies and Migrant Agency in the Context of Fragmentation and Precarization in Courier, Express and Parcel Delivery Services.

The courier, express and parcel delivery sector (CEP) is a highly dynamic and competitive industry that has experienced explosive growth in recent years. This growth has been achieved primarily through the widespread establishment of subcontractor structures and the use of migrant labour.

The dissertation project examines the living and working conditions that arise for migrant workers in this context in particular. It also explores the migrants’ agency, which sheds light on their own perspective on their work as well as their strategies for dealing with adversity and coping strategies. Not least, the perspective of trade union organisation and how they position themselves in this challenging field, which is characterised by fragmentation and diversity, will also be investigated.

In order to answer these questions, methods of re-constructive qualitative social research, such as document analyses, problem-centred interviews and narrative expert interviews will be applied. The approach is based on grounded theory methodology in order to systematically uncover connections and interpretations of migrant and trade union perspectives in the still under-researched field.