BOKU University is looking for an Assistant Professor with tenure track to establish a Vienna Research Group in the field of Environmental Systems Research

Organisation: Universität für Bodenkultur

Research Field: Environmental science - Natural resources management

Country: Österreich

Type of Contract: Temporary

Job Status: Full-time

Hours per week: 40

Workplace: 1180 Wien, Gregor Mendel-Straße 33

Application Deadline: 22 December 2025

Offer description

BOKU University is looking for excellent candidates to start a new research group in all areas and disciplines in Environmental Systems Research, for example natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, health sciences and climate research. The VRG group is expected to tackle fundamental and interdisciplinary questions in environmental research using cutting-edge methodologies.

We offer successful candidates a career position in compliance with § 99 (5) UG, tenure-track, and a EUR 1.8 million grant for six years from the Vienna Science and Technology Fund WWTF. We are looking for a highly qualified scientist who will advance the field of Environmental Systems Research with ambitious and novel approaches, enthusiasm for inter- and multidisciplinary research, and commitment to teaching.

BOKU University is the best Life Sciences and Sustainability University in Austria and meets the major global challenges such as climate crises, biodiversity crises, scarcity of resources, food security and natural hazards with scientific excellence and sustainable developments. BOKU provides an excellent research environment, including international doctoral programmes and state-of-the-art equipment bundled in Core Facilities.

Your profile

• Researchers up to eight years after PhD, counting backwards from submission deadline; care duties may extend this period up to four years.
• Outstanding achievements and potential in research, excellent publication record and international reputation.
• Experience in designing and participating in research projects, ability to lead research groups and willingness to acquire third-party funding.
• Experience in teaching. Candidates are expected to develop their own teaching concept and to teach with enthusiasm students at bachelor, master or doctoral level, to supervise academic theses and to promote junior colleagues.
• Eligible for the WWTF grant are applicants with no employment contract with an Austrian institution within three months before the submission deadline and being employed at a foreign research institution for at least two years in the last three years counting from the submission deadline.

What BOKU offers

• Official nomination and support for the Vienna Science and Technology Fund Call VRG Call 2026 – Environmental Systems Research, which provides funding of up to EUR 1.8 million over six to eight years to successful candidates.
• A group leader position at BOKU University upon successful application to the above-mentioned program.
• A tenure-track position upon positive evaluation of the group leader performance, a stimulating research environment and excellent research infrastructure.

Application deadline: 22nd of December 2025

To apply for this position, please send your documents in English to BOKU University, to the attention of recruiting@boku.ac.at, reference: Vienna Research Groups Environmental Systems Research.

Application documents

• Research Statement.
• Two-page application letter including a brief description of current research interests and research plans for the immediate future.
• Curriculum vitae.
• List of publications with specification of five key publications particularly relevant to the advertised position.
• List of given talks including information about invited keynote lectures at international conferences, list of acquired third-party funds and, if applicable, inventions or patents.
• Overview of academic teaching and supervised or co-supervised theses.
• Information about experience in organization, management and group leadership.

For scientific questions please contact Prof. Christian Obinger, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, christian.obinger@boku.ac.at.

For details regarding this call please contact Dr. Olivier Guillaume, Research Support, Innovation and Technology Transfer of BOKU, olivier.guillaume@boku.ac.at.

Additional job details