Limited contract until: 02/28/2031 (or 6 years after start date)

Among the many reasons to research and teach at the University of Vienna there is one in particular, which has convinced around 7,500 academic staff members so far. They see themselves as personalities who need space for continuous striving for top international research and scientific excellence. At the same time they enjoy support and liberties that are not a given at other institutions. Does that sound like something for you? Welcome to our team!

Your personal sphere of play:

Your future position is at the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research in the Plant Phylogenomics Group within the Division of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany. Research in our group focuses on how genome-level processes (e.g. gene duplication, horizontal gene transfer, introgression) and natural selection have shaped the morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic diversity of plants. Ongoing projects include the evolution of floral scent in Onagraceae and the role of hybridization in the evolution of sexual systems in Schiedea (Caryophyllaceae), but all projects generally address two common questions: What are the genomic signatures that coincide with the origin of fundamental life history traits, and what is the relationship between these processes/traits and diversification? To address these questions, we use a diversity of approaches, from field work to high-throughput DNA sequencing methods (long-read genome sequencing, target-enrichment, transcriptomics), all with a heavy emphasis on using both gene and species phylogenies.

We are currently offering a postdoctoral position for up to six years. This position is not funded by a third-party project and therefore allows the successful candidate to develop their own projects within the scientific framework of the Plant Phylogenomics Group or related areas. Of course, collaborating on and lending expertise to existing projects is also expected. The Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research is part of the faculty of Life Sciences with 10,000 students and a highly international team of > 1000 employees.

Your future tasks:

Participate in research, teaching, mentoring, and group administration, which means:

• You will continue to build an independent research profile in your field
• You participate in and contribute to ongoing research projects
• You develop new projects and apply for third-party funding
• You publish in international journals as both the lead author and as a co-author on papers from the group to which you contribute
• You serve as the instructor of record for courses related to your area of expertise within the scope of the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement
• You supervise or co-supervise master and PhD students in the group, with an emphasis on training students in skills related to your area of specialization
• You contribute to group administration, such as the preparation of reports and personnel management
• You contribute to the maintenance of wet-lab and dry-lab infrastructure

This is part of your personality: 

• Completed doctoral/PhD studies in plant systematics, comparative genomics, or a related field. Candidates who have not yet completed their PhD studies but can demonstrate a date of completion prior to the start of this position will also be considered
• A strong record of publication in journals related to plant systematics and comparative genomics
• Experience with bioinformatics and high-performance computing in a Linux environment
• A strong background in plant systematics and organismal biology
• Evidence of applying for third-party funding
• A record of presenting your research at scientific conferences
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English (C1)
• A commitment to collaboration and communication within a team

What we offer:

Work-life balance: Our employees enjoy flexible working hours, remote/hybrid and/or part-time work (upon agreement).

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 in the center of beautiful Vienna 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.

Fixed-term contract and fair salary: The basic salary of EUR 4,932.90 (14 times a year) increases if we can credit professional experience.

Equal opportunities for all: We look forward to diverse personalities in the team!

It is that easy to apply:

• Your full scientific curriculum vitae
• A letter of intent (cover letter) explaining why you are interested in the position and how it is a good match for your experience and goals
• A summary of research interests, including past experience and future directions (two pages maximum)
• Doctoral Degree or intended date of completion
• Contact details of three persons who could provide reference letters
• Via our job portal / Apply now -  button