University assistant predoctoral/PhD Candidate

Universität Wien

Job description:

At the University of Vienna more than 10,000 personalities work together towards answering the big questions of the future. Around 7,500 of them do research and teaching, around 2,900 work in administration and organisation. We are looking for a/an

University assistant predoctoral/PhD Candidate

51 Faculty of Physics
Startdate: 01.11.2025 | Working hours: 30 | Collective bargaining agreement: §48 VwGr. B1 Grundstufe (praedoc)
Limited until: 31.10.2029
Reference no.: 4734

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 which 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 Optics, Quantum Nanophysics, and Quantum Information 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/.

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 the study of topological order using tensor network methods.
• 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 application of quantum information driven tools, in particular tensor network methods, to the study of topologically ordered systems.
• 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 have completed your Master’s degree in Physics or a closely related and relevant discipline with excellent grades, and with a focus on theoretical research.
• You possess methodological competence in modern theoretical concepts and mathematical tools in quantum physics, quantum information theory, and related fields.
• It is a strong asset if you have already acquired expertise and demonstrated your ability to perform rigorous theoretical research in the field of topological order and of tensor network methods, evidenced for instance through a successfully completed Master’s Thesis or research project.
• You have experience in academic writing.
• You 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 have an excellent command of written and spoken English.
• 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 3.714,80 (on a full time basis) (14x p.a.) increases if we can credit professional experience. 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.

Equal opportunities for everyone: We look forward to diverse personalities in the team!

It is that easy to apply:

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

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: 10/23/2025 

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