Scientific project assistant predoctoral Universität Wien

Job description:

The University of Vienna is a community of almost 11,000 individuals, including approximately 7,700 academic staff members, who passionately pursue answers to the profound questions that shape our future. Fueled by curiosity and a deep sense of duty, they contribute invaluable insights to research and teaching, enriching our society. Are you inspired and driven by the desire to make a meaningful impact? We are currently seeking a/an

Scientific project assistant predoctoral

Explore and teach at the University of Vienna, where more than 7,500 academics thrive on curiosity in continuous exploration and help us better understand our world. Does this sound like you? Then join our accomplished team!

Your personal sphere of influence:

As a PhD candidate (prae doc or university assistant in the Austrian university system), you will work for the research project “Cycling Together/Bersepeda Bersama: Mobility, Mediation, and Ways of Knowing in Yogyakarta, Indonesia” led by Associate Prof. Sanderien Verstappen (Principal Investigator). The project is based at the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology and funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF.

As a PhD candidate in the Cycling Together project, you will carry out an ethnography of everyday cycling practices in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Your PhD project will focus on “utility cyclists” (not recreational or sports cycling): people who are dependent on bicycles or tricycles for their everyday transport – for example for work, care, or commuting. We are looking for a candidate with solid training in Social and Cultural Anthropology and on-site ethnographic research (as shown in a completed or near-completed master thesis project), excellent command of English and Indonesian, and a strong interest in social inequalities.

Your work environment will be the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology of the Faculty of Social Sciences. You will be enrolled as a student in the Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences, where you will take courses and work on a PhD dissertation. You will also be collaborating with researchers, stakeholders and research participants in Yogyakarta, including staff members of the Gadjah Mada University.

The employment duration is four years, (48 months) from 15.01.2027 until 14.01.2031. The initial contract is for one year, until 14.01.2028. Based on a satisfactory performance, the contract will be renewed for three additional years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a declaration of non-extension. With appropriate work progress, an extension to a total maximum of 4 years is possible.

Job interviews will be held on Zoom in November.

More details on the project: https://vval.univie.ac.at/research/cycling-together-bersepeda-bersama/

The guidelines for a PhD dissertation at the Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences:https://vds-sosci.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/p_vds_sosci/Docs/SoSci_Guidelines_English.pdf.

Your future tasks:

You take on tasks in research and administration to support the Cycling Together project and will be expected to:

• Carry out an ethnographic research project on utility cycling in Yogyakarta (including its urban, peri-urban and rural surroundings) within the framework of the Cycling Together project.
• Develop and defend your research proposal in the first year, carry out on-site ethnographic research in Yogyakarta during the second year, and finalise your dissertation according to the guidelines of the Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences within four years.
• Actively contribute to the activities of the Cycling Together project, including team and stakeholders’ meetings, public outreach activities, data management and research ethics procedures, and single-authored and co-authored academic publications.
• Take courses and pass exams at the Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences.
• Collaborate constructively with the PI, the research team, administrative staff, stakeholders, and research participants (both face-to-face and digitally).

This is part of your personality:

Must-haves:

• Recently completed (or near to completion) Master's degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology, or a related degree in the Social Sciences with elective courses in Social and Cultural Anthropology;
• Experience in on-site ethnographic fieldwork; adaptable and sensitive to different kinds of fieldsites;
• Excellent command of English (C1) and at least one Indonesian language (minimum Bahasa Indonesia, other languages are recommendable);
• Effective academic writing and speaking;
• High level of social skill and self-organisation.

Recommendable:

• Experience in utility cycling and interest in cycling-along research methods;
• Strong interest in social inequality and diversity;
• Knowledge of southeast Asia or a comparable region.

What we offer:

Work-life balance: Our employees enjoy flexible working hours and can partially work remotely. 

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.

Fair salary: The basic salary of EUR 3.776,10 (on a full-time basis) increases if we can credit professional experience.

Equal opportunities for all: We welcome every additional/new personality to the team!

What to submit:

- Letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages)

- Brief proposal for a research project on utility cycling (maximum 2 pages)

- Master Degree/Diploma 

- List of courses taken and the grades obtained for them, provided by the university

- Your MA thesis as a sample of your academic writing; if it is not yet completed, a section of the thesis

- Scientific curriculum vitae, including the names of two referees (no reference letters, only email addresses) and a list of outcomes from your ethnographic fieldwork so far.

Please submit in English and via our Website. 

Application deadline: 18.11.2026 at 23.59 o’clock in Vienna

If you have any questions, please contact:

Sanderien Verstappen  

sanderien.verstappen@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.

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​Application deadline: 11/18/2026 

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