University assistant predoctoral/ PhD Candidate Universität Wien

Job description:

At the University of Vienna almost 11,000 personalities work together towards answering the big questions of the future. Around 7,700  of them do research and teaching, around 3,000 work in administration and organisation. We are looking for a/an

University assistant predoctoral/ PhD Candidate

Are you interested in the study of problems in quantum many-body physics through the lens of quantum information and quantum computing? Do you enjoy studying complex quantum mechanical systems both from a physical and a mathematical perspective? Are you an innovative and productive team player who enjoys being part of an interdisciplinary team that works on cutting-edge questions ranging from mathematics and theoretical physics all the way to numerical simulation algorithms? 
Then apply now to join our team of researchers in the Quantum Information and Quantum Many-Body Physics research group.

Your personal sphere of influence:

As a university assistant (praedoc) on this 4-year position you will be part of the “Quantum Information and Quantum Many-Body Physics” group, led by Prof. Norbert Schuch. Our research lies at the interface of Quantum Information and Computation with the study of Complex Quantum Many-Body Systems. For this, we apply a combination of methods from both Physics and Mathematics, complemented by concepts from Theoretical Computer Science.
Our research group is located jointly at the Faculty of Physics – as part of the Quantum Science Group – and at the Faculty of Mathematics. Furthermore, we are a member of the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ), one of the largest quantum hubs in Europe, and of the Austrian Cluster of Excellence quantA, which aims at advancing basic research in quantum sciences, expanding the frontiers of knowledge, and thus driving future innovations. 
As a doctoral candidate, you will also benefit from becoming a member of either the Vienna Doctoral School in Physics (VDSP) or the Vienna School of Mathematics (VSM). 
As a team, we understand the importance of a positive, inclusive, and respectful working environment, and we regularly exchange ideas about current topics and projects in our group meetings. More information about our research areas and our team can be found on our homepage at https://schuch.univie.ac.at/. The start of the contract is November 1st, 2026 or later. The exact starting date is negotiable. 

Your future tasks:

You will actively participate in research, teaching, and administration. This entails:
• You conduct research at the interface between Quantum Information and Quantum Many-Body Physics, where the focus of your research will lie on problems at the interface of high-energy physics and quantum information and entanglement.
• You continuously stay informed about the state of the art in your field.
• You present your research plan to the faculty and complete a dissertation agreement within 12-18 months. This will be reviewed and adapted on an annual basis.
• You work on your dissertation project and towards its timely completion. The focus of the dissertation project will be on the study of problems in high-energy physics, in particular quantum field theories and gauge theories, through the lens of quantum information and entanglement.
• You contribute to teaching, such as lab courses or exercise classes, within the scope of the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement. 
• You contribute to the dissemination of your results through publications and conference presentations and engage in outreach activities aimed at the general public.
• You take on administrative tasks in research, teaching, and administration.

This is part of your personality:

• You must have completed your Master’s degree in physics with excellent grades, and with a focus on theoretical physics. In particular, you must have conducted a Master’s thesis in the field of theoretical physics.
• You must possess proven expertise in performing theoretical research in the fields of theoretical high-energy physics and quantum field theory as well as theoretical quantum information, as proven through a successful Master’s and Bachelor’s Thesis, as well as through successful exams in relevant lecture courses.
• You must have an excellent command of written and spoken English. 
• You should demonstrate didactic competence and a positive attitude towards interactions with students. 
• You are open towards participating in outreach activities.
• You show social competence and the ability to work effectively in a team.
• You are self-motivated, eager to grow, and capable of working independently. 
• You are looking forward to new tasks and are willing to participate actively in scientific discourse.

What we offer:

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 in the center of beautiful Vienna is easily accessible by public transport.
Potential for development: Success in life depends on what you make of it, but if you are ambitious and successful, there are plenty of opportunities to connect you to all relevant top research groups in the world.
Internal further training & Coaching: The Vienna Doctoral Schools as well as the department of human resources offer plenty of opportunities to grow your skills in over 600 courses to choose from – free of charge.
Fair salary: The basic salary of EUR 3.776,10 (full-time basis p.w., 14x p.a.) increases if we can credit professional experience. The duration of employment 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.
Equal opportunities for everyone: We look forward to diverse personalities in the team!

How to apply:

The following documents must be provided via our job portal by clicking on the "Apply now" button at the bottom of the page:
• your letter of motivation
• your scientific CV
• a short statement on your research interests for the future (about 1 page)
• your Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree plus all relevant transcripts and grades
• the abstracts of both your Bachelor’s Thesis and your Master’s Thesis
• the contact information of two people who can provide letters of recommendation upon request 

If you have any content questions, please contact:

Norbert Schuch

norbert.schuch@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: 10/02/2026 

Apply now