PhD position for the ERC project ALTERBIOTIC

Explore and teach at the University of Vienna, where more than 7,500 academics thrive on curiosity in continuous exploration and help us better understand our world. Does this sound like you? Then join our accomplished team!

About the project:

ALTERBIOTIC is a five-year research project funded by the European Research Council (ERC-2024-StG, grant ID 101163944), led by Assistant Professor Dr Christian Haddad.
ALTERBIOTIC investigates the pressing global health crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from the perspective of the politics of innovation. The project examines how a new biomedical research field is emerging to address the ‘broken system’ of antibiotic R&D. It focuses on the actors and stakeholders seeking to develop a radically altered antimicrobial innovation ecosystem by establishing alternative frameworks for biomedical research, development, commercialization, and the deployment of new therapies – including novel types of antibiotic drugs as well as advanced biomedicines (including, for instance, phage therapies, antibodies, and vaccines). The project investigates the visions, challenges, and barriers facing this emerging field in its efforts to (re)create a viable innovation ecosystem that supports a safe, equitable, and sustainable approach to tackling AMR.
Anchored in Science and Technology Studies (STS) research perspectives, ALTERBIOTIC analyses the entanglements and the tensions between scientific, political and economic dimensions of these biomedical innovation processes. Focusing on the visions and practices of developers, researchers, funders and regulators in the field, ALTERBIOTIC’s main research objectives include analyzing how these actors understand and navigate the ‘innovation challenges’ pertaining to antimicrobials and AMR; how the rapidly evolving life sciences knowledge of microbes and AMR becomes translated into drug development processes; and how normative visions of safe, equitable and sustainable futures are articulated and negotiated in these emerging antimicrobial innovation spaces.

Description of work tasks and responsibilities:

Work in the ALTERBIOTIC project will require both collaborative team work and individual research tasks. As a team, we will meet regularly to develop groundwork for collaboration, to engage with different conceptual perspectives and develop a robust interactional expertise of antimicrobial science and innovation. This will involve immersing ourselves in the pertinent social science literature on AMR and microbes, pharmaceutical innovation and global health R&D, develop methodological and fieldwork skills, and develop a shared empirical research agenda. Further, each team member is tasked to take on responsibility for a distinctive sub-project that examines a key aspect of the project’s research objectives. As part of the ALTERBIOTIC research team, the applicant’s individual tasks and responsibilities will include:

• Contributing to mapping and analyzing the emerging innovation field in the antimicrobial space;
• Developing case studies of pertinent developments in the field and/or conducting systematic analysis of the innovation ecosystem;
• Planning and conducting empirical research in the emerging antimicrobials innovation space, including fieldwork. Fieldwork will require international travel to relevant  field sites (e.g., biotech conferences, international organizations, etc.) and will involve qualitative interviewing and ethnographic observation;
• Contributing to the publication and dissemination of project results;
• Participation in project work and meetings, actively contributing to the ALTERBIOTIC research team.

Your qualification:

•  A completed MA degree in Science and Technology Studies (STS), sociology, anthropology, political science, or a related social science discipline;
• A demonstrated research interest in medical science, technology, and innovation studies, and a genuine passion for interdisciplinary social science research;
• A robust conceptual and methodological foundation in the social sciences, with a solid skills in qualitative methods;
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team;
• Strong academic research and writing skills, including experience in preparing outputs for both academic and broader audiences;
• Proficiency in English; intermediate German is an asset.

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: Opportunity 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 3714,80 (on a full-time basis) increases if we can credit professional experience.

Equal opportunities for all: We welcome every additional/new personality to the team!

How to apply:

• A motivation letter, clearly stating which position you are applying for. Particularly, outline your research interests and describe how you see your potential contribution to the ALTERBIOTIC project (up to 3 pages);
• An academic CV (max. 3 pages);
• A sample of your academic writing (this may be part of your MA thesis);
• The names and contact details of up to two referees (including your MA/PhD thesis supervisor).
• Via our job portal/ Apply now -  button

Ideally apply until end of May, we will start screening the applications from early June. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews in June or early July 2025 (online or in person). The anticipated start date is 1 September 2025.