The University of Vienna is a cosmopolitan hub for almost 11,000 employees, of whom around 7,700 work in research and teaching. They want to do research and teach at a place that suits their ideas and work together towards answering the big questions of the future. You also appreciate the exchange between disciplines, cultures and generations? We are looking for a
49 Faculty of Social Sciences
Job vacancy starting: 08/01/2026 | Working hours: 30,00 | Classification CBA: §48 VwGr. B1 Grundstufe (praedoc)
Limited contract until: 07/31/2030
Job ID: 5698
There are many good reasons to want to conduct research and teach at the University of Vienna. And one reason why around 7,500 academic staff members before you have chosen this university. You see yourself as a personality who needs room for curiosity and a continuous drive in order to be scientifically successful. Do you need that too? Welcome to our team!
As a predoctoral university assistant, you will join the research team of Univ.-Prof. Desirée Schmuck in the area of Media Change and Media Innovation. You will work in the Vienna Media Change and Innovation (VMCI) Lab, which is based at the Department of Communication, a subunit of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
The research area focuses on media use and effects among children and adolescents, political engagement in digital media environments, media change and intergroup relations, the self-determined use of media innovations such as artificial intelligence, and many other exciting topics related to the evolving media environment.
The team currently consists, in addition to the professorship, of three prae-docs, one student assistant, and one administrative staff member.
What characterizes us as a team is a highly collegial way of working, curiosity about new phenomena in media change, and a commitment to internationally excellent research.
You actively participate in research, teaching, and administration, which means:
Inspiring working atmosphere: You are a part of an international academic team in a healthy and fair working environment.
Good public transport connections: Your workplace is easily accessible by public transport.
Internal further training & Coaching: Opportunity to deepen your skills on an ongoing basis. There are over 600 courses to choose from – free of charge.
Duration of contract: The employment duration is 4 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 4 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a non-extension declaration.
Fair salary: The basic monthly gross salary for this advertised position currently (2026) is € 3,776.10 (based on full-time) in salary group B1 and will be paid 14 times a year for a period of four years (i.e., the duration of the contract). The basic salary increases if we can credit prior professional experience.
Equal opportunities for all: We welcome every additional/new personality to the team!
Desiree Schmuck
desiree.schmuck@univie.ac.at
We look forward to new personalities in our team!
The University of Vienna has an anti-discriminatory employment policy and attaches great importance to equal opportunities, the advancement of women and diversity. We place particular emphasis on enhancing women’s representation among the academic and general university staff, particularly in leadership roles, and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.
Data protection
Application deadline: 06/30/2026
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