Assistant Professor with tenure track in the field of Environmental Systems Research

BOKU University is looking for an

Assistant Professor
with tenure track
to establish a Vienna Research Group
in the field of Environmental Systems Research

Offer description:

BOKU University is looking for excellent candidates to start a new research group in all areas/disciplines in Environmental Systems Research (e.g. natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, health sciences, climate research). The VRG-group is expected to tackle fundamental and interdisciplinary questions in environmental research using cutting-edge methodologies. We offer successful candidates a career position in compliance with § 99 (5) UG (tenure-track) and a EUR 1.8 million grant for six years from the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) (https://wwtf.at/funding/programmes/vrg/#VRG26). We are looking for a highly qualified scientist who will advance the field of Environmental Systems Research with ambitious and novel approaches, enthusiasm for inter- and multidisciplinary research, and commitment to teaching.

BOKU University is the best Life Sciences and Sustainability University in Austria and meets the major global challenges (climate crises, biodiversity crises, scarcity of resources, food security, natural hazards etc.) with scientific excellence and sustainable developments. BOKU provides an excellent research environment, including international doctoral programmes and state-of-the-art equipment bundled in Core Facilities (https://boku.ac.at/cf). BOKU claims to be the leader in research and teaching in its six fields of competence (https://boku.ac.at/en/fos/themen/bokucompetence-areas): Ecosystem management and biodiversity; agricultural production and food; sustainable materials and technologies; biotechnology; landscapes, water, and infrastructure; resources and social dynamics.

Your profile:

• Researchers up to eight years after PhD, counting backwards from submission deadline (cut-off date is 10.03.2018); care duties may extend this period up to four years.
• Outstanding achievements and potential in research, excellent publication record, international reputation.
• Experience in designing and participating in research projects, ability to lead research groups, willingness to acquire third-party funding.
• Experience in teaching. Candidates are expected to develop their own teaching concept and to teach with enthusiasm students at all level (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level), to supervise academic theses and to promote junior colleagues.
• Eligible for the WWTF grant are applicants with (i) no employment contract with an Austrian institution within three months before the submission deadline (ii) being employed at a foreign research institution for at least two years in the last three years counting from the submission deadline.

What BOKU offers:

• Official nomination and support for the Vienna Science and Technology Fund Call VRG Call 2026 – Environmental Systems Research, which provides funding of up to EUR 1.8 million over six to eight years to the successful candidates.
• A group leader position at BOKU University upon successful application to the above-mentioned program.
• A tenure track position upon positive evaluation of the group leader´s performance, a stimulating research environment and excellent research infrastructure.

Application deadline: 22^nd of December 2025

To apply for this position, please send your documents in English to BOKU University, to the attention of recruiting@boku.ac.at, reference: “Vienna Research Groups Environmental Systems Research”.

The application documents should comprise:

• Research Statement:
• 2-page application letter including a brief description of current research interests and research plans for the immediate future.
• Curriculum vitae including:
• List of publications with specification of five key publications which the applicant considers particularly relevant to the advertised position.
• List of given talks including information about invited keynote lectures at international conferences, list of acquired third-party funds (subject, duration, origin, volume) as well as, if applicable, inventions/patents.
• Overview of academic teaching and (co-)supervised theses.
• Information about experience in organization, management and group leadership.

For scientific questions please contact Prof. Christian Obinger, Vice Rector for Research & Innovation (christian.obinger@boku.ac.at)

For details regarding this call please contact Dr. Olivier Guillaume (olivier.guillaume@boku.ac.at), Research Support, Innovation & Technology Transfer of BOKU.

www.boku.ac.at