You want to understand how things are connected and make a fundamental impact? We offer an environment where you can realize your full potential. At one of Europe’s largest and most modern business and economics universities. On a campus where quality of work is also quality of life.
We are looking for support at the Institute for Economic and Social History
Fulltime, 40 hours/week
Starting October 01, 2027, and limited for 6 years
A qualification agreement will be concluded at the start of the employment (§ 27 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement). Pursuant to WU’s Personnel Development Plan, this position can only be fixed-term for up to six years. Once all objectives agreed upon in the qualification agreement have been fulfilled, the employment relationship can be made permanent. Employees who have successfully completed a qualification agreement are classified as associate professors. From an organizational regulation perspective they belong to the group of professors. Three years after successful completion of the qualification agreement, they are entitled to apply for promotion to full professor according to the By-Laws of WU § 43a.
We are inviting applications for an Assistant Professor position (tenure track) in the field of Economic History to join our institute. This tenure track assistant professor position offers the opportunity to advance an independent research profile, publish internationally, acquire funding and gain substantial teaching experience while working collaboratively within a close-knit group of colleagues who share a strong interest in the field. Join an ambitious, internationally connected academic environment to take the next step in your academic career.
What to expect
- Development of an internationally oriented research profile
- Publications in relevant high-quality outlets and presentations at relevant international conferences
- Teaching at BSc and MSc level (usually 4h/week per semester, 8h/week after tenure), collaboration in the development of the institute’s teaching portfolio
- Collaboration and independent supervision of BSc and MSc theses
- Participation in teaching and research administration within the academic self-administration at WU
- Independent or collaborative preparation of applications for third-party funded research projects.
What you have to offer
- PhD/doctorate in Economic and/or Social Sciences (including Economic History).
- Proven research focus on topics relating to Economic History; applications from all areas of quantitative economic history are welcome.
- Excellent command of quantitative empirical methods of the economic and social sciences; the use of modern use of modern econometric and/or data science methods is expected
- Ability to develop and work with relevant datasets for the aforementioned research focus
- Publication(s) and/or forthcoming articles in leading journals and/or monograph(s) with academic publishers.
- Demonstrated active engagement with the international academic community, for example, through collaboration with international coauthors, research visits at other universities, or presentations at leading academic conferences.
- Candidates must have completed their PhD at a university other than WU or have at least two years of postdoctoral working experience at another university. It is an advantage if they demonstrate international academic experience—such as a PhD from a non-Austrian university or postdoctoral work at a non-Austrian academic institution for at least two years.
- Excellent spoken and written English skills ; German skills are not required, but knowledge and/or willingness to acquire them will be an advantage, as they improve flexibility in teaching.
- Experience in university teaching , preferably in the announced area of expertise, ability to teach in English and commitment to excellence in teaching
- Experience in applying for competitive research grants is not strictly required, but will be of advantage
- Willingness to engage in interdisciplinary research and teaching collaborations within the Department of Socioeconomics and at WU.
Required submission materials:
- C.V. including list of publications
- Cover letter
- Writing sample, e.g., job market paper
- Research statement
- Teaching statement
- Two letters of reference
- Additional publications/manuscripts (optional)
What we offer you
- Six weeks of vacation/Extra vacation time
- Flexible working hours
- Training opportunities
- A wide range of benefits , from an in-house medical officer to athletic activities and a meal allowance to a variety of employee discounts
- Meaningful work in an open-minded, inclusive, and family-friendly environment
- A modern campus with spectacular architecture in the heart of Vienna
- Inspiring campus life with over 2,400 employees in research, teaching, and administration and approximately 21,500 students
- Excellent accessibility by public transportation
- Living and working in one of the world’s most livable cities . Tax incentive for eligible international researchers moving to Austria.
Curious? Visit our website and find out more at www.wu.ac.at/benefits.
The minimum monthly gross salary amounts to €5,980.80 (14 times per year). In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive social benefits.
Application
Do you want to join the WU team? Then please submit your application by November 18, 2026 (ID 2934). We are looking forward to hearing from you!
WU is committed to diversity and inclusion and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from women. Not sure if your profile fully matches our requirements? Apply anyway! In case of equal qualification, female candidates will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities will be supported throughout each stage of the recruitment process. Candidates' qualifications will be assessed in the context of their academic age.