Assistant Professor, tenure track (qualification agreement)

  • Vienna University of Economics and Business
  • Research, development, teaching
  • Fulltime
  • published till: 2026-04-15

 You want to understand how things are connected and make a fundamental impact? We offer an environment where you can realize your full potential. At one of Europe’s largest and most modern business and economics universities. On a campus where quality of work is also quality of life. We are looking for support at the

Institute for Political Economy of Public Policy
Fulltime, 40 hours/week
Starting October 01, 2026, and limited for 6 years
 
A qualification agreement will be concluded at the start of the employment (§ 27 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement). Pursuant to WU’s Personnel Development Plan, this position can only be fixed-term for up to six years. Once all objectives agreed upon in the qualification agreement have been fulfilled, the employment relationship can be made permanent. Employees who have successfully completed a qualification agreement are classified as associate professors. From an organizational regulation perspective they belong to the group of professors. Three years after successful completion of the qualification agreement, they are entitled to apply for promotion to full professor according to the By-Laws of WU § 43a.
 
The Department of Socioeconomics of the WU Vienna University of Economics and Business invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position (post-doc) in Quantitative Empirical Research.

The Department of Socioeconomics offers an active and internationally oriented research environment. The successful candidate is expected to complement and strengthen the department’s existing research profile through applied quantitative empirical research focusing on socioeconomic causes and consequences of environmental policies and a demonstrated research interest in comparative political economy and public policy research. The successful candidate is expected to use analytical techniques including (but not limited to) survey experiments, advanced observational data analyses, and causal models. The successful candidate will contribute to the department’s quantitative methodological teaching portfolio and therefore commands over advanced methodological skills.

What to expect

  • Independent research work: You will publish in top journals as well as presenting at academic conferences
  • Teaching: You will be planning and teaching courses (4 semester hours per week / 2 courses each semester and after concluding a qualification agreement 8 semester hours per week / 4 courses each semester)
  • Student support: You will be available to answer students’ questions and act as a supervisor for bachelor’s theses and master’s theses
  • Organizational and administrative support: You will be organizing and evaluating teaching activities and supporting the Master Program
  • Learning from top researchers: You will be working together with renowned researchers in your field and learning from them
  • Teamwork: At the institute, you’ll be working to advance research in your field, this also includes (collaborative) funding application and acquisition of third-party-funds
  • Building up a personal network: You will be using the post-doc phase to establish yourself as a researcher and expand your own professional network, keeping the WU’s third mission and societal engagement in mind

What you have to offer

  • Doctoral Degree / PhD: a solid academic qualification (PhD or equivalent) in political science (or a related field)
  • Subject-specific competences in the fields of environmental politics and other public policies
  • Methodological knowledge: in-depth knowledge of advanced quantitative methods
  • Research funding: an interest in the acquisition of third-party funded projects and ability to enlarge and deepen the network of contacts to the international academic community is an advantage
  • Teaching experience: a commitment to excellence in teaching, including the experience in teaching in advanced quantitative methods, didactic competences & creativity
  • Language skills: excellent English skills are required as teaching is dominantly in English. Knowledge of German is an asset
  • IT-Skills: R, Stata, Python, AI research methods, MS Office
  • High-quality research output: publications in leading journals in public policy, political science, and general social science and presenting internationally
  • Organizational knowledge of university processes and structures
  • Academic mobility: proven by either having completed their PhD or doctoral degree at a university other than WU, or having completed an uninterrupted postdoc employment period (in a tenure-track or non-tenure-track position) of at least two years and with an extent of employment of at least 20 hours per week at another university or non-academic research institution 
  • Research program: interest in developing an additional research agenda in comparative political economy
  • Team spirit: flexibility, commitment, creativity and engagement

Do you want to join the team at the Institute for Political Economy of Public Policy? Then please submit your application in English including:

  • Cover letter
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Motivation letter
  • A list of taught courses
  • Statement summarizing future research interest and projects
  • Teaching statement of advanced methods courses

Please do not include research papers or references with this application. Please direct any questions to thomas.pluemper@wu.ac.at.

What we offer you

  • Six weeks of vacation/Extra vacation time
  • Flexible working hours
  • Training opportunities
  • A wide range of benefits, from an in-house medical officer to athletic activities and a meal allowance to a variety of employee discounts
  • Meaningful work in an open-minded, inclusive, and family-friendly environment
  • A modern campus with spectacular architecture in the heart of Vienna
  • Inspiring campus life with over 2,400 employees in research, teaching, and administration and approximately 21,500 students
  • Excellent accessibility by public transportation

Curious? Visit our website and find out more at www.wu.ac.at/benefits.

The minimum monthly gross salary amounts to €5,904.00 (14 times per year). In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive social benefits.

Do you want to join the WU team?
Then please submit your application by April 15, 2026 (ID 2720).
We are looking forward to hearing from you!