Postgraduate Research Associate (Senior Scientist) / Reference Code 242

The Centre for Global Change and Sustainability is currently seeking a Postgraduate Research Associate (Senior Scientist).

Extent of employment: 40 hours per week

Duration of employment: 1st of January 2026 - permanent

Allocation in compliance with the Collective Agreement for University Staff to job group: B1

Gross monthly salary: depending on previous eligible experience at least € 3.714,80

Responsibilities

• Scientific and content-related coordination of the Austrian Center for Transformation (ACT).
• ACT aims to foster interfaces between science, art, and society, support transformative research and education, contribute to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, strengthen dialogues and innovative formats addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity, energy, and social security, and serve as a central contact point for society and stakeholders.
• Development and implementation of measures in line with ACT's objectives.
• Knowledge transfer as well as expansion of research expertise and capacities in the field of transformation and transformative sustainability research, including climate change, biodiversity crisis, and societal change.
• Establishment and maintenance of interfaces between researchers, the ACT board, and external strategic partners to foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Monitoring and analysis of current scientific developments and deriving impulses for the strategic advancement of ACT.
• Planning, conceptualization, and organization of scientific events, lectures, workshops, and national and international conferences in the field of socio-ecological transformation.
• Support with content-related and organizational coordination as well as association-related, financial, and contractual matters.
• National and international networking in the field of socio-ecological transformation and sustainability research.
• Co-authoring of scientific publications in the field as well as independent presentation of research results at conferences. The opportunity for a PhD is provided and supported.

Required skills and qualifications

• Diploma degree in transformation and/or sustainability or other equivalent university degree.

Desired skills and qualifications

• Excellent knowledge of the research and funding landscape in Austria, of the relevant policy fields as well as of the relevant research funding institutions in socio-ecological transformation, climate change, and sustainability.
• Experience in strategic work.
• Experience with transformation research, climate and transformative sustainability research.
• Knowledge and experience in association management and association accounting.
• Experience in the development and implementation of scientific projects, project management and project coordination.
• Strong communication and networking skills.
• Experience in inter- and transdisciplinary work.
• Excellent German and English skills, both C1, in spoken and written form.

Application

Please send your job application including motivation letter and CV to Personnel Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 70, 1190 Vienna; E-Mail: recruiting@boku.ac.at. Reference code: 242.

www.boku.ac.at