Vienna Doctoral School of Pharmaceutical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences

Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elke Heiss

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.

Working hours: 30 hours /week

Job Description:

A PhD position is open in our Natural Products and Cellular Stress Resistance group. We investigate the molecular mechanisms by which biogenic compounds or their derivatives shape cellular adaptation to stressful challenges. Ongoing work focuses on redox regulation, inflammatory signaling, and energy metabolism in physiologically relevant cell models.

The position is basically funded for 4 years, starting with a contract duration of 1,5 years which will automatically be extended to a duration of 4 years, unless the employer does submit a non-extension notification after 12 months.

The selected PhD candidate will be member of the Vienna Doctoral School PhaNuSpo which stands for high- quality PhD training and supervision across disciplines.

Work environment:

Our group is embedded in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in pharmaceutical research and education with excellent research infrastructure. Likewise, we have full access to state-of-the art equipment for cell-and molecular biological work, provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere with open door policy and low hierarchies that foster growth, creativity, independence and critical thinking of early career researchers.

Your Tasks:

You actively participate in research, teaching & administration, which means:

• You plan and execute cell-based in vitro experiments
• You are open to training and collaborations to expedite and enrich research progress/output
• You present / publish research results at/ in international conferences/journals
• You engage in teaching activities to the extent specified in the collective agreement
• You supervise bachelor and master students
• You are expected to actively engage in VDS PhaNuSpo and to sign a dissertational agreement within the first 12 months after admission

Your Profile: 

• You have an MSc degree in molecular/cell biology, (bio)chemistry, pharmacy or similar
• You are interested in and have a basic understanding of cell biology and signal transduction processes
• You have experience in molecular biological research methods and data analysis
• You possess excellent verbal and written communication skills in English (proficiency in German is an add-on (for teaching options))
• You are a curious, enthusiastic, dedicated and proactive person who enjoys science and working independently as well as being part of a team to reach set goals
• If that sounds like you, we are looking forward to your application!

What we offer:

• Work-life balance: Our employees enjoy flexible, family-friendly working hours, with possibility for remote/hybrid work (upon agreement).
• Inspiring working atmosphere: You will be part of an international team with excellent research infrastructures and work atmosphere.
• Good public transport connections: Our institute is in the 9th district of Vienna, close to railway, underground and tram stations.
• Fair salary: The salary, starting with EUR 3.776,10 (full time) can be increased if you have relevant professional experience.
• Equal opportunities for everyone: We look forward to diverse personalities in the team!

If you have any questions, please contact: elke.heiss(at)univie.ac.at   

Supervisor: Univ. Prof. Lea Ann Dailey

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.

Working hours: 30 hours per week

Job Description:
Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant yeast that frequently colonizes the skin and can be sometimes fatal when entering the bloodstream via open wounds. It spreads easily in healthcare settings via direct contact or contaminated surfaces. The rate of multi-drug resistance is increasing rapidly and there is an urgent need for both enhanced therapeutic and disinfection strategies. This project will focus on the ability of synthetic, single-chain bolalipids, a class of surface-active agents, as drug carrier systems with anti-fungal properties for enhancing therapeutic outcomes of Candida auris skin infections. We will also explore their ability to act as disinfectants to reduce the spread of infection. The project will be span a range of disciplines including synthetic chemistry, formulation science, dermal drug delivery, biocompatibility studies and microbiology.

Work environment: 
We are a multidisciplinary group focussed on the interplay between new materials, their interaction with the body and health impacts. We focus on the improved delivery of anti-infective agents to different application sites, as well as assessment of biocompatibility. In recent years, our unique expertise has broadened into exciting collaborations with the environmental sciences, therefore our group pursues a diverse range of projects, not only limited to the pharmaceutical sciences. We are an international team and look forward to working with new team members that bring different experiences to the table.

Your Tasks:

• Design, execute and document experiments according to best scientific practice
• Take on responsibilities for selected instruments and lab management roles
• Co-supervise Master’s projects

Your Profile: 

• Self-motivated, enjoys learning new skills
• Team player and good communicator
• Willing to participate in a research visit in collaborators labs

What we offer:

• Inspiring working atmosphere as part of an international academic team
• A healthy and fair working environment with flexibility depending on task-related needs
• Continued professional development with a wide range of courses to choose from, free of charge,
• Support in conference attendance, scientific leadership and professional networking
• Equal opportunities for all

If you have any questions, please contact: leaann.dailey(at)univie.ac.at

Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Lea Ann Dailey

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.

Working hours: 30 hours per week

Job Description:
While it is well established that humans are increasingly exposed to different types of inhalable plastics in different environments, it is still unclear how these materials and their potential array of additives may behave in the lung and whether they constitute an elevated hazard to human health. Using cutting-edge experimental and analytical methodologies, we will characterise different groups of environmentally relevant particulate matter (such as tyre and brake wear particles, as well as packaging-derived micro- and nanoplastics) for their chemical composition and the rate of leached additives. We will then profile the toxicokinetic profiles of selected additives and materials using state-of-the-art aerosol dosing systems and in vitro screening assays. A focus will be placed on assessing the toxicity of environmentally relevant mixtures rather than single substances. The project will be performed as a close collaboration with the Division of Environmental Geosciences (EDGE) at the University of Vienna.

Work environment: 

The Nanomedicine and Pharmaceutical Biophysics group, led by Lea Ann Dailey, of the Division of Pharmaceutical Technology at the Department of Pharmceutical Sciences,  is a multidisciplinary group focussed on the interplay between materials, their interaction with the body and health impacts. Although we have a focus in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, our expertise in inhalation toxicology, especially of polymeric systems, has broadened into exciting collaborations with the environmental sciences. We are an international team and look forward to working with new team members that bring different experiences to the table.

Your Tasks:

• Design, execute and document experiments according to best scientific practice
• Take on responsibilities for selected instruments and lab management roles.
• You present your research findings in peer-reviewed publications and at conferences.
• Co-supervise Master’s projects.
• Engage in teaching activities to the extent specified in the collective agreement
• Work on your dissertation and its completion.
• Actively engage in the VDS-PhaNuSpo, and to complete the public presentation and sign the doctoral thesis agreement within the first 12 months after admission.

Your Profile: 

• Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or other related subjects.
• Self-motivated, enjoys learning new skills.
• Team player and good communicator.
• High level of written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to participate in research visits to collaborators' laboratories.

What we offer:

• Inspiring working atmosphere as part of an international academic team.
• A healthy and fair working environment with flexibility depending on task-related needs.
• Continued professional development with a wide range of courses to choose from, free of charge.
• Support in conference attendance, scientific leadership and professional networking.
• Fair salary: The salary, starting with EUR 3.776,10 (full time) can be increased if you have relevant professional experience.
• Equal opportunities for everyone: We look forward to diverse personalities in the team.

If you have any questions, please contact: leaann.dailey(at)univie.ac.at

Supervisors:

! In your motivation letter, please include your specific topic and Supervisor:

• Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfram Weckwerth (Multi-Omics, Metabolomics, clinical studies)
• Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Karl-Heinz Wagner (Nutritional Physiology, Personalized Nutrition)
• Ass.-Prof. DI Dr. -Ing. Steffen Waldherr (AI, machine and deep learning)

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.

Working hours: 30 hours per week

Job Description:

Project Background

Nutrition plays a greater role than ever in determining how healthy we remain, how we feel, and how sustainably our society functions. With AIPN – AI‑powered Personalized Nutrition for well‑being and disease prevention, the University of Vienna is establishing a new, visionary research platform under the leadership of Prof. Wolfram Weckwerth.

AIPN brings together an exceptional interdisciplinary team of nutrition scientists, medical researchers, metabolomics and microbiome experts, psychologists, and specialists in artificial intelligence to rethink nutrition from the ground up.

The platform integrates state‑of‑the‑art biochemical analyses, multi‑omics technologies, behavioral research, and AI‑driven modeling. This unique combination enables us to predict how individuals respond to specific foods and intervention techniques and to develop personalized nutrition intervention strategies that are both scientifically robust and practically effective.

The overarching goal is to develop scientifically grounded, personalized nutrition concepts that strengthen individual health and contribute to a more resilient society.

Work environment:

You will join a highly interdisciplinary and internationally visible research environment at the University of Vienna, embedded in the Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME), the Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, and the broader AIPN research network. You will collaborate closely with experts in:

• Metabolomics, proteomics, and microbiome research
• Nutrition science and public health
• Psychology and behavioral science
• Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science
• Clinical and biomedical research

You will have access to state‑of‑the‑art analytical platforms, computational infrastructure, and a vibrant scientific community.

Your Tasks:

• Conduct research within the AIPN framework, focusing on personalized nutrition, multi‑omics, and AI‑based modeling
• Design and perform nutritional intervention studies or laboratory experiments (depending on background)
• Generate, process, and analyze metabolomics, and other multi‑omics datasets
• Apply machine‑learning models for predicting individual nutritional responses
• Integrate biochemical, behavioral, and computational data into predictive frameworks
• Present research results at conferences and publish in peer‑reviewed journals
• Supervise students
• Collaborate within an interdisciplinary team and contribute to the conceptual development of next‑generation nutrition research

Your Profile:

We welcome applicants from diverse scientific backgrounds, including:

• Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Systems Biology
• Nutrition Science, Food Science, Public Health
• Metabolomics, Proteomics, Microbiome Research
• Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, AI
• Biomedical or medical sciences

You bring:

• A completed Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field
• Strong interest in interdisciplinary research
• Curiosity for complex biological systems and human health
• Motivation to work with multi‑omics data, AI models, or human‑centered research
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across disciplines
• High intrinsic motivation and scientific curiosity

What We Offer:

• A position within a cutting‑edge, interdisciplinary research platform
• Access to advanced analytical and computational infrastructure
• Collaboration with leading experts in systems biology, nutrition, and AI
• A supportive environment for scientific development and career growth
• Opportunities for international networking, conference participation, and publications
• Integration into a dynamic research community at the University of Vienna
• Membership in the Vienna Doctoral School PhaNuSpo.

Contact:

If you have any questions, please contact: 

Prof. Dr. Wolfram Weckwerth: wolfram.weckwerth(at)univie.ac.at
Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Wagner: karl-heinz.wagner(at)univie.ac.at 
Prof. Dr. Steffen Waldherr: steffen.waldherr(at)univie.ac.at

Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Laura M. König 

Duration of Contract: 4 years

Working hours: 30 hours per week

Job Description:

Project Background

Nutrition plays a greater role than ever in determining how healthy we remain, how we feel, and how sustainably our society functions. With AIPN – AI‑powered Personalized Nutrition for well‑being and disease prevention, the University of Vienna is establishing a new, visionary research platform.

AIPN brings together an exceptional interdisciplinary team of nutrition scientists, medical researchers, metabolomics and microbiome experts, psychologists, and specialists in artificial intelligence to rethink nutrition from the ground up.

The platform integrates state‑of‑the‑art biochemical analyses, multi‑omics technologies, behavioral research, and AI‑driven modeling. This unique combination enables us to predict how individuals respond to specific foods and intervention techniques and to develop personalized nutrition intervention strategies that are both scientifically robust and practically effective.

The overarching goal is to develop scientifically grounded, personalized nutrition interventions that strengthen individual health and contribute to a more resilient society.

Work environment:

You will join a highly interdisciplinary and internationally visible research environment at the University of Vienna, embedded in the Institute of Clinical and Health Psychology, one of four institutes of the Faculty of Psychology, the Research Network Health in Society, and the broader AIPN research network. You will collaborate closely with experts in:

• Metabolomics, proteomics, and microbiome research
• Nutrition science and public health
• Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science
• Clinical and biomedical research

You will have access to state‑of‑the‑art analytical platforms, computational infrastructure, behavior research facilities, and a vibrant scientific community.

Your Tasks:

• Conduct research within the AIPN framework, focusing on personalized nutrition, multi‑omics, and AI‑based modeling
• Design and perform nutritional intervention studies or laboratory experiments (depending on background)
• Generate, process, and analyze metabolomics, and other multi‑omics datasets
• Apply machine‑learning models for predicting individual nutritional responses
• Integrate biochemical, behavioral, and computational data into predictive frameworks
• Present research results at conferences and publish in peer‑reviewed journals
• Supervise students
• Collaborate within an interdisciplinary team and contribute to the conceptual development of next‑generation nutrition research

Your Profile:

We welcome applicants from diverse scientific backgrounds, including:

• Psychology, Behavioral Science
• Nutrition Science, Food Science, Public Health
• Human-Computer-Interaction, Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, AI
• Biomedical or medical sciences

You bring:

• A completed Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field
• Strong interest in interdisciplinary research
• Curiosity for complex human health behaviors and their underlying psychological mechanisms
• Motivation to use both quantitative and qualitative research methods including ecological momentary assessments/ interventions and qualitative interviews
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across disciplines
• High intrinsic motivation and scientific curiosity
• Very good English skills, both orally and in writing. Good German skills are desirable but not required.

What We Offer:

• A position within a cutting‑edge, interdisciplinary research platform
• Access to advanced research infrastructure, including the Ecological Momentary Assessment lab
• Collaboration with leading experts in systems biology, nutrition, and AI
• A supportive environment for scientific development and career growth
• Opportunities for international networking, conference participation, and publications
• Integration into a dynamic research community at the University of Vienna
• Membership in the Vienna Doctoral School PhaNuSpo or CoBeNe

Contact:

If you have any questions, please contact: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Laura M. König, laura.koenig(at)univie.ac.at