The University of Vienna is a community of almost 11,000 individuals, including around 7.700 academic staff members, who work together towards answering the big questions of the past, present, and future. We are looking for four new colleagues to join our team as

University assistant predoctoral

408 Research Platform Multilateralism Revisited: The Past, Present, and Future of International Negotiation and Cooperation
Startdate:01.09.2026 | Working hours:30 | Collective bargaining agreement:§48 VwGr. B1 Grundstufe (praedoc)
Limited until:31.08.2030
Reference no.:5320

Are you interested in studying the past, present, and future of multilateralism in a city that is a hub for international negotiation and cooperation? Do you have a background in political science, international law, development studies, history or related social science and humanities disciplines and are you open to interdisciplinary research? We are looking for four PhD candidates to join the newly founded Research Platform “Multilateralism Revisited: The Past, Present, and Future of International Negotiation and Cooperation” at the University of Vienna (https://multilateralism-revisited.univie.ac.at/). “Multilateralism Revisited,” led by Arne Langlet, Eva-Maria Muschik, Elisabeth Röhrlich, Alice Vadrot, and Michael Waibel, is a joint project of the Faculties of Social Sciences, Historical and Cultural Studies, and Law.

Multilateralism has increasingly come under attack in recent years. At the same time, there is a growing understanding that contemporary issues—from climate change to artificial intelligence to pandemics—are global and require multilateral solutions. The research platform will study challenges to multilateralism in the past, present, and future from an interdisciplinary perspective. Collectively, we will investigate how issues such as global inequalities, institutional fragmentation, and science and technology contestation challenged and continue to challenge multilateralism. Four co-supervised PhD projects will explore how these challenges affect(ed) multilateral negotiations relating to

1. the colonial past and its legacies (from a historical and development studies perspective),
2. the governance of dual-use technologies such as nuclear energy and artificial intelligence (from a historical perspective),
3. data sharing in the governance of environmental crimes (from a political science perspective), and
4. resource extraction in “the global commons” such as the high seas (from an international law perspective).

We are looking for candidates who are eager to develop a PhD research project in one of these four research areas. While each project will be anchored in a primary disciplinary orientation, all projects will be co-supervised by a team member with a different disciplinary background.

What makes our group special:

• We are building a new research platform to jointly investigate challenges to multilateralism in the past, present, and future from different disciplinary perspectives
• We are part of extensive international research networks in our respective fields
• We offer training in individual academic disciplines as well as in interdisciplinary research
• We offer a dynamic and inspiring research environment
• We offer supportive mentorship focused on your academic development

Your work setting:

You will be affiliated with and based at one of the participating departments, become a member of the interdisciplinary research platform “Multilateralism Revisited,” and join one of the participating doctoral schools.

Affiliations:

Project 1 (“colonial past/legacies”): Department of Development Studies / Doctoral School of Social Sciences (main supervisor: Eva-Maria Muschik)
Project 2 (“dual use technologies”): Department of History / Doctoral School of Historical and Cultural Studies (main supervisor: Elisabeth Roehrlich)
Project 3 (“environmental crimes”): Department of Political Science / Doctoral School of Social Sciences (main supervisors: Arne Langlet and Alice Vadrot)
Project 4 (“global commons”): Department of European, International and Comparative Law / Advanced Research School in Law and Jurisprudence (main supervisor: Michael Waibel)

Your future tasks:

You actively participate in research, teaching & administration, which means:

• You work on your dissertation and its completion within four years
• You work on the dissemination of your research (e.g. through conference participation and publications)
• You become an active member of the new research platform “Multilateralism Revisited”
• You teach courses within the scope of the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement for Austrian universities (up to two teaching hours per week)
• You participate in, (co-)organize, and contribute to joint activities of the research platform such as workshops, public seminars and lectures, grant-writing, and publications
• You participate in the events of the respective department where you are based

This is part of your academic background and personality: Necessary:

• Completed above-average master's degree in political science, history, development studies, international law or related disciplines (degree must be conferred no later than the starting date of the position)
• Excellent command of written and spoken English
• Experience with relevant research methods (e.g. archival research, data analysis) and academic writing
• Interest in inter- and transdisciplinary work
• Strong commitment to finish your PhD project within four years
• Commitment to teamwork and required social skills
• Commitment to live in or near Vienna

Asset:

• Experience with interdisciplinary research and work settings
• Didactic competences (e.g. experience as teaching assistant)
• Interest in science communication beyond academia
• Previous research or practical experience regarding international organizations and multilateralism
• Basic German skills

What we offer:

Duration of employment:The employment duration is 4 years (30 hours/week). 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.

Inspiring working atmosphere: You are a part of an international academic research setting in an attractive working environment.

Fair salary: The basic salary of EUR 2.832,10 (30 hours per week, gross, 14 times per year) increases if we can credit professional experience. This includes benefits (pension system) and health insurance.

Work-life balance: Our employees enjoy family-friendly working hours and can partially work remotely.

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.

How to apply:

Please submit the following documents via our job portal:

• Cover Letter explaining your interest in and suitability for the platform (2 pages)
• Academic curriculum vitae (including publications and presentations, if applicable)
• The names of two referees who can testify to your academic skills (including their affiliation, email address, phone number)
• Sketch for a prospective doctoral project proposal related to the above mentioned fields (max. 5 pages)
• A writing sample (e.g. article, MA thesis chapter)
• Copy of Master Degree / Diploma and transcripts of all university degrees

We will conduct interviews with short-listed candidates (interviews currently scheduled for week of 4-8 May)

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact:

Cara Nairz-Vith

multilateralism-revisited@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 place particular emphasis on enhancing women’s representation among the academic and general university staff, particularly in leadership roles, and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.

University of Vienna. Space for personalities. Since 1365.

Application deadline: 04/12/2026