University assistant predoctoral - FWF project RE-SECURE 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. 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 - FWF project RE-SECURE

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!

About this position:

We are currently seeking a Doctoral Researcher (Prae-Doc) to join the FWF ASTRA project RE-SECURE – Remaking Security: Technopolitics in the Global East, led by Dr. Dagmar Vorlíček, at the Department of Sociology. If you are passionate about interdisciplinary research on security, and would like to contribute to an innovative international research project, we look forward to your application.

Start date: 1st October 2026 Duration: 4 years Extent: 30 hours/week (0.75 FTE)

About the project:

RE-SECURE – Remaking Security: Technopolitics in the Global East explores how expertise developed under past political regimes can be renegotiated and adapted for new security purposes. Focusing on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as a region marked by profound political transformations from the Cold War to the present, the project rethinks the study of security by theorizing how ways of “doing security” are shaped by history, technology, and global connections. The project will examine both the symbolic and material dimensions of remaking security, while combining desk research, archival work, and field research. By analysing how technoscientific practices interact with societal understandings of risk and global politics, RE-SECURE will develop an original, historically grounded, and decentered perspective on security from the perspective of the “Global East.”

Your future tasks:

As a doctoral researcher, you will develop your own dissertation project within the framework of RE-SECURE while contributing actively to the collaborative research agenda.

Your responsibilities include:

• Building an independent research profile in sociology of security
• Developing and conducting a case study on science diplomacy in Austria
• Planning and executing qualitative empirical research (combining interviews, document analysis, and archival research)
• Contributing to comparative and conceptual work across the project’s case studies
• Publishing and presenting research results nationally and internationally
• Participating in project meetings, workshops, and research activities of the department
• Contributing to literature reviews, conceptual development, and joint publications of the RE-SECURE team
• Engaging in the broader academic life of the faculty

You will receive structured supervision and mentoring, including support in academic writing, publishing strategies, research design, and grant writing.

Your profile:

• Completed MA degree (or equivalent) in sociology, political science, STS, international relations, history, or a related discipline
• Strong interest in security studies, sociology of expertise, and/or technopolitics
• Solid grounding in qualitative research methods
• Demonstrated research competence and strong analytical skills
• Excellent written and spoken English, knowledge of German is an advantage
• Experience with archival or field research is an asset
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team

What we offer:

• Integration into an ambitious FWF-funded international research project
• Close supervision and structured mentoring by the PI
• Training in grant writing, academic publishing, and project management
• Opportunities to develop an interdisciplinary profile in security studies
• Support in career development and future academic applications
• A dynamic and collaborative research environment
• 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.
• Salary according to the FWF salary rates (prae-doc level).

How to apply:

Please submit the following documents in a single PDF file:

• Motivation letter (max. 2-3 pages), outlining your research interests and how you would contribute to the project RE-SECURE
• Academic CV
• Writing sample (e.g., MA thesis or article manuscript)
• Contact details of two academic referees (name, institutional affiliation, email address)
• Via our job portal/ Apply now -  button

If you have any questions, please contact:

Dagmar Vorlicek  

dagmar.vorlicek@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: 06/30/2026 

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