Your personal sphere of influence:The Univers
ity of Vienna Research Platform 'Trustworthy Science Communication' announces a PhD pos
ition at the Faculty of Computer Science, Research Group Visualization and Data Analysis. 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 may 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 below.The successful candidate for this pos
ition will be employed by the Faculty of Computer Science 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 declaration of non-extension.Your future tasks:You actively participate in research, teaching & administration, which means:• Conduct science communication research focusing on trust and trustworthiness in dig
ital and data-driven environments, particularly in relation to data visualizations.• Design and implement empirical studies to examine how scientific information is interpreted and trusted, w
ith special attention to data l
iteracy and
its role in strengthening c
itizen agency.• We expect you to join the Vienna Doctoral School of Computer Science and conclude a doctoral thesis agreement w
ithin 12 months.• You work on your dissertation and
its completion.• 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 Research Group Visualization and Data Analysis, a subun
it of the Faculty of Computer Science. 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., Computer Science, Data Science, Dig
ital Human
ities, or related disciplines) Knowledge of quant
itative and qual
itative research methods, e.g., survey design, interviews, ethnography, or mixed-methods approachesKnowledge of statistical data analysis (e.g., R, Stata, SPSS), and/or other programming skills (e.g., survey scripting)Strong interest in questions of trust and trustworthiness, AI and society, and science communication in dig
ital environmentsInterest in open science principles Experience w
ith academic wr
iting and familiar
ity w
ith publishing processes 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) 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 field of data-driven science communication research, 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 - button.If you have any questions, please contact:Torsten Möller 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
weniger ansehen