University assistant predoctoral

The Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Vienna is the largest Austrian institution of mathematical research and tertiary education in the mathematical sciences. It consists of active research groups in a wide range of fields, starting from logical foundations, bridging all classical core subjects, and up to concrete applications in industry. As part of the Faculty, the Institute of Mathematics represents the entire discipline of mathematics in research and teaching, without making an arbitrary separation into pure and applied fields.

We are looking for open, innovative and productive colleagues who are willing to work in an international and interdisciplinary environment.

Your personal sphere of influence:

We're excited to invite applications for a University Assistant (Praedoc / PhD Candidate) to join the research team led by Univ. Prof. Olga Mula. Our group’s work sits at the forefront of numerical analysis for Partial Differential Equations, enriched with data-driven methodologies -- a powerful combination that’s redefining what’s possible in computational science, and is playing a crucial role in tackling some of today’s scientific and societal challenges.

The selected candidate will contribute to an exciting project at the intersection of data assimilation and optimal transport, focusing on Wasserstein Gradient Flows. The goal is to design innovative assimilation schemes using nonlinear approximation tools—such as neural networks, spline functions, or Gaussian random fields.

The core challenge? Developing methods that are not only provably stable and reliable, but also efficient in high dimensions, minimizing the impact of the notorious curse of dimensionality, and satisfying certain structural properties of gradient flows such as entropy dissipation. This is a chance to tackle cutting-edge mathematical and computational problems with real-world relevance, using modern approximation theory and machine learning techniques.

The ideal candidate will have prior exposure to modern developments in at least one of these fields: Optimal Transport, numerical analysis of PDEs, functional analysis, mathematical foundations of deep learning, and measure theory. You can find more information about our research area and our team on the website: http://www.olgamula.com. As a team, we understand the importance of a positive, inclusive, and respectful working environment, and we regularly exchange ideas about current topics and projects in our group meetings.

The starting date of the contract is negotiable, but it should take place between the 1st of September 2025 and the 1st of February 2026. The employment period is for 4 years from the beginning of the contract.

Your future tasks:

Active participation in research, teaching & administration, which means:

• Collaboration and research in the field of Computational Partial Differential Equations:

          o Development of own solutions as part of the research group of Prof. Mula.
          o Conclusion of a dissertation agreement within 12-18 months is expected.

          o Membership in the Vienna School of Mathematics and active participation in its activities will be required.

• Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

          o Willingness to participate in conferences and congresses.

• Collaboration in teaching and administration:

          o Independent participation in the administration of the institute, teaching and research.
          o Independent participation in and teaching of courses in accordance with the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.

Required Qualifications/Position Requirement:

• Completed diploma or master's degree in mathematics or a related field before the contract starts.
• Experience in scientific writing and research methods (copy of the Master's thesis, as well as list of publications and presentations, if applicable).
• Didactic skills.
• Excellent Programming skills (Python or Julia).
• Excellent knowledge of English, both written and spoken.
• You are a team player with high social and communication skills.
• You are goal-oriented and have a high motivation to strive for scientific excellence.
• You are not entitled to compensation for travel and accommodation expenses incurred in connection with the application procedure,

What we offer:

The employment duration is 4 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 4 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a non-extension declaration.

• Work-life balance: The compatibility of work and private life or work and study is a particularly important concern for us. In consultation with the team and team management, you can therefore organize your working hours flexibly and in a family-friendly manner within the framework of the current flexible and family-friendly working hours and also work partially home office.
• Inspiring working atmosphere: You are part of an international team with excellent research infrastructure in a relaxed working environment.
• Good public transport connections: Your new workplace is easily accessible by public transport.
• Climate neutrality - sustainability: The University of Vienna contributes to the achievement of climate goals by means of an adopted sustainability strategy and aimes to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 through the reduction of resource consumption, resource-saving and sustainable procurements.
• Fixed-term contract and adequate salary: The basic salary corresponds to the collective agreement for employees of the universities according to § 48 VwGr. B1 lit b basic level (praedoc): EUR 3.714,80 on a full-time basis (14 times per year). The actual salary is finally determined depending on professional experience and qualification. The gross salary covers all benefits of the employee in quantitative and qualitative terms (= all-in payment).
• Internal training and coaching: We offer you ongoing opportunities to deepen your skills. Choose from an extensive range of courses free of charge.
• Benefits: The University of Vienna also offers you numerous benefits, such as a company pension fund, travel allowances, low-cost parking, discounted IT (hardware and software), special rates for language courses offered by the university language center, advancement of women, diversity management and specific career advancement, inclusion, Papamonat, Flexible childcare, vacation care for children, health care, vaccination campaigns and fitness offers (special rates for USI sports courses) as well as discounts for employees at various companies.
• Equal opportunities for all: We welcome every additional personality to the team!

Is your interest in this attractive and varied field of activity with autonomous areas of responsibility now aroused? Would you like to take on this new challenge? To actively contribute to the current and future major scientific issues of the research team around Prof. Mula and, above all, to become even better at what you can already do?

Then we are looking forward to you and your meaningful application:

• with your letter of motivation,
• your academic curriculum vitae,
• with a summary of prior research activities, and future research interests (max. 2 pages),
• copy of the Master's thesis,as well as list of publications and presentations, if applicable,
• with your notification of a completed Master's/Diploma degree (required before the start of the contract) as well as
• contact details of 2 persons for reference, to be sent directly to olga.mula.hernandez@univie.ac.at referencing ID 3514

• via our job portal by clicking on "Create Profile - Login & Logout" in the header on the upper right, or
• directly in this job posting by clicking the "Apply now" - Button on the bottom right side.