Senior Scientist

The University of Vienna is a community of over 10,000 individuals, including approximately 7,500 academic staff members, who passionately pursue answers to the profound questions that shape our future. Fueled by curiosity and a deep sense of duty, they contribute invaluable insights to research and teaching, enriching our society. Are you inspired and driven by the desire to make a meaningful impact? We are currently seeking a/an

Senior Scientist

50 Faculty of Life Sciences

Job vacancy starting: 12/01/2024 | Working hours: 20.00 | Classification CBA: §48 VwGr. B1 lit. b (postdoc)

Limited contract until: 05/31/2025

Job ID: 3191

The Faculty of Life Sciences runs several national and international field stations. One of them is the Tropical Field Station La Gamba, which is used as research and teaching facility and situated at the edge of the Parque Nacional Piedras Blancas and close to the Osa Peninsula with the Corcovado National Park in southern Costa Rica. Are you interested in a position which combines the possibility for doing own research in an environment of tropical rain forest and cultivated landscape with coordination and support of other research and teaching activities in La Gamba? We invite you to apply for this position as a senior scientist at the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna. The position is limited for 6 months, with the option of a permanent contract after this period.

You are affiliated to the Faculty of Life Sciences at the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research at Rennweg 14, which houses several research groups including Tropical Ecology and Animal Biodiversity. You will be part of the team that will coordinate groups from the University of Vienna that travel to the field station for teaching and to perform research. You will be involved in the exchange and negotiations with the local authorities in Costa Rica and you will also be in close contact with the La Gamba Society (and its members), which owns the field station, as well as the management team of the field station. In your function as a senior scientist, it is expected that you perform and promote research in the tropical environment in and around the field station and coordinate research activities from the University of Vienna in and around La Gamba. You have to travel regularly to the field station and will have close contact with the local management team. You will also be part of the team that reports the progress of the field station activities in research and teaching to the Dean’s Office and the Rectorate.

• You will be part of the faculty managing team of the field station La Gamba but your position is located at the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna; however, frequent trips to La Gamba are foreseen
• You will coordinate and support groups from the University of Vienna and other Universities travelling to La Gamba in teaching and research aspects
• You will be involved in the processing of permits e.g. for research and collection or for genetic and biochemical studies
• You will be closely connected to the local management team of the field station and the La Gamba Society in Vienna
• You will perform, promote and/or coordinate research activities from our Faculty in La Gamba
• You will be involved in University research activities in La Gamba
• You will follow relevant literature and drive new research ideas
• You will be involved in teaching activities

• Open, collaborative, and curious
• Pro-active and highly motivated
• Experienced in research projects in the tropics
• Able to work independently but also in teams, have self-management skills and a highly organized style of work and documentation

Education and training

• Doctorate in biology or related fields
• Practical experience in tropical rain forest research activities
• International collaborations in Spanish speaking countries, ideally in tropical regions
• Experience with sustainability projects and/or initiatives
• Fluent in English (in speech and writing)
• Very good Spanish language skills are required

• International and dynamic research environment at the Faculty of Life Sciences. Team member at the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research. Excellent support by laboratory and administrative staff
• Opportunity to engage with the local biodiversity and/or tropical rain forest community within and beyond University of Vienna, participation in local scientific meetings
• Possibility to consolidate your research profile with contributions to scientific publications and applications for research funding
• Possibility to take on teaching duties and co-supervision of undergraduate students
• Internal training programs to strengthen research and leadership skills
• Fixed-term contract and fair salary: 4.752,3€ gross starting salary (40 h basis, 14 times annually)

• Academic curriculum vitae, including a list of publications, third party funding, teaching and talks
• Letter of motivation including a description of research interests and the specific interest in the advertised position
• Contact details of three people, who could provide a letter of reference
• Certificate of the highest awarded academic degree

Karl-Heinz Wagner

karl-heinz.wagner@univie.ac.at

We look forward to new personalities in our team!
The University of Vienna has an anti-discriminatory employment policy and attaches great importance to equal opportunities, the advancement of women and diversity. We lay special emphasis on increasing the number of women in senior and in academic positions among the academic and general university staff and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.

Data protection
​Application deadline: 11/11/2024