Your personal sphere of influence:The Univers
ity of Vienna Research Platform 'Trustworthy Science Communication' announces a PhD pos
ition in the Health Psychology Group, located w
ithin the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology.Members of the research platform will conduct science communication research w
ith a specific focus on the question of trust in science. This research will be interdisciplinary, and led by researchers in Communication Science, Computer Science, Psychology, and Science and Technology Studies.Together, we will examine public trust in science through cutting-edge research on science communication. Our research will be built on the understanding that public trust in science is complex, shaped by perceptions of trustworthiness, communication practices, and shifting social and pol
itical contexts. Trust cannot be assumed or manufactured;
it must be earned through consistent integr
ity, transparency, and responsiveness. Because pol
itical developments, media narratives, and societal change continually challenge the relationship between science and the public, trust must be actively maintained. Addressing this challenge requires an interdisciplinary approach, as trust in science is conceptualized differently across fields. By integrating these perspectives, this platform aims to advance research on the foundations and practice of trustworthy science communication.We inv
ite applications for PhD projects located in and beyond each of the participating disciplines. All PhD candidates will work w
ith an interdisciplinary supervision team, and will be able to join one of the doctoral schools at the Univers
ity of Vienna. Applicants should be able to demonstrate interest in or experience w
ith public science communication, the capac
ity to carry out interdisciplinary research, and the research skills necessary to complete a PhD. Further details of each pos
ition are provided belowThe successful candidate for this pos
ition will be employed by the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and their research project will be supervised by an interdisciplinary supervisory team from the Univers
ity of Vienna. The employment duration is 4 years. In
itially lim
ited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 4 years if the employer does not terminate
it w
ithin the first 12 months by subm
itting a non-extension declaration.Your future tasks:You actively participate in research, teaching & administration, which means:Conduct science communication research focusing on the contributors to and consequences of trust in science for human and planetary health.Contribute to the development and mon
itoring of a comprehensive social science data collection platform including mostly quant
itative, but also qual
itative data sources (e.g., panel surveys, online experiments, ecological momentary assessment, dig
ital trace data, media coverage) for the long
itudinal investigation of the relationships between (science) communication, trust in science, relevant att
itudes and other psychological constructs, and behavioural outcomes.We expect you to join the Vienna Doctoral School Cogn
ition, Behavior, and Neuroscience (CoBeNe) and conclude a doctoral thesis agreement w
ithin 12 months.You work on your dissertation and
its completion.You publish in international peer-reviewed academic journals.You participate in national and international conferences and workshops.You hold courses and examinations independently and (co-)supervise students w
ithin the scope of the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.You take on administrative tasks in research and teaching.You become an active team member of the Research Platform "Trustworthy Science Communication and the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, a subun
it of the Faculty of Psychology. This is part of your personal
ity:All candidates in the Research Platform are expected to have the following qualifications as part of their profile:Strong interest in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of science communication and their original field of studyAbil
ity to work independently and as part of a research team in a collaborative environment.Proven abil
ity to manage complex projects, prior
itize tasks, and meet deadlines.Excellent verbal communication skills for interdisciplinary collaboration and presenting research findings.Excellent English skills, both wr
itten and spoken.In add
ition, the following specific requirements apply to the pos
ition advertised here:Relevant Master's degree (e.g. psychology, communication science, or related disciplines)Knowledge of quant
itative social science methods such as online surveys or experiments, daily diary studies, ecological momentary assessment, or studies involving dig
ital trace dataKnowledge of quant
itative data analysis methods and related software (e.g., R, SPSS, JASP)Interest in open science principlesVery good German skills, both wr
itten and spoken, and some knowledge of qual
itative data collection and analysis methods are desirable, but not required What we offer:Work-life balance: Our employees enjoy flexible working hours and can partially work remotely. 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 is easily accessible by public transport.Internal further training & Coaching: Opportun
ity to deepen your skills on an ongoing basis. There are over 600 courses to choose from - free of charge.Fair salary: The basic salary of EUR 3.776,10 (on a full-time basis) for a period of 4 years / 48 months increases if we can cred
it professional experience.Equal opportun
ities for all: We welcome every add
itional/new personal
ity to the team!
It is that easy to apply:W
ith a letter of motivation that describes your previous research achievements, your research goals, your career plans, and your reasons for applying;W
ith a complete CV, including a list of previous scientific expertise, awards, grants, stays abroad, attended lectures, attended summer schools, attended workshops, skills, and publications (if applicable);W
ith an abstract in English of your MA/MSc thesis, BA/BSc thesis, or of a research project you were involved in;W
ith a 1-page research p
itch describing an idea for a PhD dissertation w
ithin the research area of human and planetary health, which would f
it w
ithin the research focus of the "Trustworthy Science Communication" research platform;W
ith a complete list of finalised studies and transcripts of all grades;W
ith 1-2 names of academic references and their contact addresses (e.g., your Master's thesis supervisor);W
ith any other material you think is relevantVia our job portal/ Apply now - buttonIf you have any questions, please contact:Laura Maria König look forward to new personal
ities in our team! The Univers
ity of Vienna has an anti-discriminatory employment policy and attaches great importance to equal opportun
ities, the advancement of women and divers
ity. We place particular emphasis on enhancing women's representation among the academic and general univers
ity staff, particularly in leadership roles, and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.Univers
ity of Vienna. Space for personal
ities. Since 1365.Data protection Application deadline: 05/14/2026 Prae Doc Apply now
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