Julian Schäfer is a research associate at the Human Technology Centre (HumTec) at RWTH Aachen University. In VeSPoTec, he focuses on the role of knowledge, non-knowledge, and knowledge strategies in verification, particularly regarding IAEA Safeguards. His PhD thesis is devoted to the qualitative analysis of the development of IAEA safeguards technology. He studied Cultural Studies (BA) at Maastricht University and the University of Oslo, and Governance of Technology and Innovation (MA) at RWTH Aachen University. He also gained experience at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research. From 2023 to 2025, he was the spokesperson for the “Junge AFK” working group of the German Association of Peace and Conflict Research.