Digital Defense and Cyber Security Management

Funded by the Ingeborg Gross Foundation, Hamburg School of Business Administration (HSBA) is announcing a research fellowship for a doctoral degree in the field of “Digital Defense and Cyber Security Management,” to begin on October 1, 2026. The research focus of this qualitative doctoral dissertation should be on current management challenges and potential solutions related to novel digital security risks. Key research questions may, for example, address cyber security risk management systems and governance, digital defense leadership, or cyber security ethics. 

Funding through a fellowship from the Ingeborg Gross Foundation covers tuition for the HSBA doctoral program for a period of four years, as well as annual travel expenses of €1,500. 

The HSBA Ingeborg Gross Graduate Center offers outstanding early-career researchers an excellent part-time doctoral program. Thanks to the support of the Ingeborg Gross Foundation, structural conditions necessary for research and scholarly work at the highest level have been established. In doing so, the Ingeborg Gross Foundation makes a significant contribution to the development of a new generation of scholars whose research combines academic excellence, economic relevance, and societal impact. The research is intended to be applied and practice-oriented, with high potential for impact on the economy and society. As part of the Ingeborg Gross Future Summit, progress reports will be presented annually, and the research findings will be made accessible to the broader public through regular publications and conference presentations.

The “Digital Defense and Cyber Security Management” fellowship is supervised by Prof. Dr. Sarah Jastram. Detailed information about the HSBA doctoral programme, as well as the required application materials and admission requirements, can be found here. The application deadline is August 20, 2026. 

Please direct initial inquiries regarding the fellowships and/or the HSBA doctoral programme to: Sabine Lebedinski, Manager of Research, External Funding & Fundraising; +49 40 822160-911; sabine.lebedinski(at)hsba.de.