The University of Vienna is a community of over 10,000 individuals, including approximately 7,500 academic staff members, who passionately pursue answers to the profound questions that shape our future. They represent individuals driven by curiosity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. With us, they find the space to try things out and unfold their potential. Are you inspired by their passion and determination? We are currently seeking a/an
University assistant predoctoral
40 Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies
Job vacancy starting: | Working hours: 30,00 | Classification CBA: §48 VwGr. B1 Grundstufe (praedoc)
Limited contract until:
Job ID: 5090
Among the many good reasons to want to research and teach at the University of Vienna, there is one in particular, which has convinced around 7,500 academic staff members so far. They see themselves as personalities who need space for their continuous striving and curiosity in order to be able to be scientifically successful. Does that sound like something for you? Welcome to our team!
Who We Are
We are looking to hire a predoctoral research fellow to join the ERC-funded research project Beyond Thalidomide: The Patient as an Agent of Change, based at the University of Vienna.
Beyond Thalidomide(2024-2029), funded by an ERC Starting Grant pioneers a history of the global rise of patient engagement with drug-related disability in the second half of the twentieth century to understand how newly empowered agents transformed conceptions of (reproductive) health and disease in science and society. It develops a framework to examine the origins, development, and consequences of patient engagement with antenatal drug use, iatrogenic disability, and reproductive health from the 1960s until today.
The PI of the project is Prof. Birgit Nemec, chair of History of Medicine and the Biomedical Sciences at the Faculty Center for Transdisciplinary Historical and Cultural Studies.
The Chair of History of Medicine and Biosciences at the Faculty Center for Transdisciplinary Historical-Cultural Studies aims to test and further develop approaches and methods in the field of modern history of knowledge and political epistemologies of medicine and the life sciences and to connect the department's institutes in research and teaching. The current thematic focus of the chair includes sex/gender diversity; medical products; risks and reproductive health; patient activism; dis/ability and global health as well as oral history methods and methods of research collaboration.
The position is limited to three years.
Your future tasks:
- Complete your dissertation, based on original archival research, and thereby contribute to the project aims with a thematic focus on either:
- patient engagement with programs to prevent drug-related disability in health care systems in Western welfare states, in state socialist countries, or in postcolonial, newly independent countries
- patients’ roles in the “entanglement” of Western drug development and postcolonial global pharmaceutical markets, including the histories of patient
- legal action led by patients or patient campaigns as a practice and pivotal intervention into scientific and political debates
- Contribute to project aims such as academic event organization, public dissemination of research results, publications
This is part of your profile:
- MA/diploma degree in history or related fields; very good or excellent course record
- Experience in archival research
- Working language skills in two or more languages
- Interest in interdisciplinary research with public health, medical anthropology and sociology
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in research teams
- Excellent English communication skills
Advantages
- Interest in theoretical and methodological debates in historical research, i.e. global perspectives; intersectional, postcolonial, disability, queer or gender perspectives
- Profound experience in archival research and/or experience in oral history methods
- Convincing working sample or outline of a PhD project
What we offer:
Team: An interdisciplinary, excellently networked and highly motivated working environment in research, teaching and public outreach/engagement
Work-life balance: Our employees enjoy flexible, family-friendly working hours, remote/hybrid and/or part-time work (upon agreement).
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.
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 salary of EUR 3.714,80 (on a full-time basis); of EUR 2.786,10 (30h/week).
Equal opportunities for everyone: We look forward to increase diversity and invite diverse personalities in the team! Please do let us know if you believe your profile will increase diversity or if you consider yourself part of a marginalised group.
It is that easy to apply:
- Letter of intent which indicates your motivation and interest in the position (max. 2 pages)
- Scientific curriculum vitae incl. a list of publications and presentations
- Writing sample (i.e. Master's thesis, book chapter)
- Draft proposal of the doctoral project (not mandatory)
- 1 Reference letter, directly sent to Birgit Nemec (birgit.nemec@univie.ac.at)
- Copies of certificates
- Via our job portal/ Apply now-button
Please submit all your documents in PDF format.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Birgit Nemec
birgit.nemec@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 lay special emphasis on increasing the number of women in senior and in academic positions among the academic and general university staff and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.
University of Vienna. Space for personalities. Since 1365.
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Application deadline: 02/09/2026
