Since mid-February 2026, Sebastian Sperner has been working as a Researcher at the LBI-GMR. His research focuses on asylum and migration, particularly within the FWF-funded project Externalization and Rightlessness, which examines how contemporary externalisation practices in asylum and migration governance can produce situations of rightlessness and explores the role of international refugee law in addressing these developments. Alongside his research, he works as a legal expert at the “Asylkoordination Österreich”, where he focuses on networking among counselling organisations, strategic litigation, public outreach, and advocacy.

Sebastian studied Law at the University of Vienna and, as a Fulbright Scholar, completed postgraduate studies in International Legal Studies at NYU School of Law. After graduating, he worked for several years as a trainee lawyer in private practice, specialising in asylum and immigration law, media and personality rights, as well as criminal and victims’ rights law. Alongside his legal practice, he delivered public talks and introductory training sessions on asylum law for non-specialist audiences and gained experience in academic publishing through contributing to and authoring scholarly publications, while combining legal practice with research and public engagement.