Professorship for Timber Engineering and Wood Technology

Graz University of Technology; Österreich; Vor Ort; EUR 60 000 - 80 000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A prominent technical university in Austria is seeking a leading researcher in timber construction. The ideal candidate will have a strong academic background, experience in managing projects, and a commitment to innovative research and teaching. This full-time position requires relocation to Graz and offers an opportunity to contribute to both practical engineering and university education in a dynamic environment.

Leistungen

Company pension funds

University sports program

Interesting area of responsibility

Support for relocation and family services

International teaching opportunities

Qualifikationen

• Experience in acquiring and managing third-party funded projects.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and willingness to cooperate.
• Didactic and pedagogical skills appropriate for a professorship.

Aufgaben

• Conduct innovative research in timber construction.
• Deliver university-level education and training in civil engineering.
• Engage in knowledge transfer activities related to timber engineering.

Ausbildung

Doctoral degree (PhD)

Outstanding academic qualifications, preferably demonstrated by habilitation

Didactic skills for teaching at all educational levels

Qualification for a leadership position

Jobbeschreibung

Organisation/Company Graz University of Technology Department Faculty of Civil Engineering Sciences Research Field Engineering Researcher Profile Leading Researcher (R4) Country Austria Application Deadline 21 Jan 2026 - 23:00 (UTC) Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number 2000 / 2025 / 8467 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Scientific Profile

The professorship is dedicated to craft-based and industrial timber construction as well as to technologies relevant to timber engineering. It encompasses university-level education and training for civil engineers and specialists with a focus on timber construction, the implementation of innovative, solution-oriented research and development in the fields of timber construction and wood technology. Another focus is on knowledge transfer activities in the areas of structural engineering, building construction, existing structure analysis, and the maintenance or restoration of existing load-bearing structures – including historic buildings – as well as in materials research, product development, and production processes, including quality management.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate recognised expertise along the entire value chain of wood, as well as a deep understanding of the performance of primarily timber-based load-bearing structures over their entire life cycle. The ideal candidate is a person with strong potential and experience in the following areas:

• innovative timber structures, for example with regard to efficient material use and/or circularity
• strategies for recycling, reuse, and reconstruction, particularly with respect to concepts for the assembly and disassembly of timber structures
• assessment of uncertainties in materials, products, and construction processes, for example through the application of mechanical-probabilistic models, risk assessments, and reliability analysis

The institute offers extensive opportunities for experimental research and development as well as for the realisation of research-based teaching – supported, among other things, by its own laboratory, the Lignum Test Center (LTC), and through participation in the Laboratory for Structural Engineering (LKI) at the Building Technology Center (BTZ) of TU Graz. In addition, there is a close collaboration with holz.bauforschungsgmbh, which is also located at the BTZ. A close cooperation with holz.bauforschungsgmbh is explicitly expected.

Employment Requirements

• A university education corresponding to the position, completed with a doctoral degree (PhD).
• Outstanding academic qualifications in research and teaching in the relevant field, preferably demonstrated by a habilitation (veniadocendi) or by post doctoral scholarly achievements.
• Didactic skills for the effective delivery of teaching at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, demonstrated through appropriate teaching qualifications, teaching experience, or a habilitation.
• Qualification for a leadership position (strategy, personnel, and process development), preferably demonstrated through professional experience, for example by leading a research group, a technical office, or a comparable institution.

Selection Criteria

• Experience in acquiring and managing third-party funded projects in both proposal-based and contract research.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and a strong willingness to cooperate within and outside the university.
• Competence in the areas of gender and diversity, as well as sensitivity to the specific needs of people with disabilities.
• Visible integration into the international research community and a convincing research concept (quality and research potential).
• Didactic and pedagogical skills appropriate for a professorship, along with a high-quality teaching concept, including the ability to teach in both German and English (or the willingness to acquire the missing language skills within two years at a minimum B2 level).
• Sufficient leadership experience and the ability to successfully manage a research team.

Application Documents

Applicants are asked to send their detailed documents in English or German. The following information is required:

• A CV describing the past research and teaching activities as well as the type and scope of leadership and management experience (including copies of diplomas and relevant certificates)
• A list of publications highlighting the 5 most important publications
• Attaching the 5 most important publications in full-text or their web‑addresses
• Your research concept (5 pages max.) describing future activities in Graz
• Your teaching concept including teaching statement and teaching profile (2 pages max. if not part of your CV) and past teaching evaluations (if possible) or teaching certificates (if available)
• A concept (2 pages max.) for the strategic orientation and development of your future team.
• Names and contact information of two people for references

Relocation of the future professor to the greater Graz area (main residence) is required.

Language Skills

Adequate written and spoken German and English language skills are expected.

Equality Principle

Graz University of Technology aims to increase the proportion of women, in particular in management and academic staff, and therefore qualified female applicants are explicitly encouraged to apply. In case of under‑representation, preference will be given to women if applicants are equally qualified.

Graz University of Technology actively promotes diversity and equal opportunities. Applicants are not to be discriminated in personnel selection procedures on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion and ideology, age, sexual orientation (anti‑discrimination).

People with disabilities, and who have the relevant qualification, are expressly invited to apply.

Languages GERMAN Level Excellent

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Research Field Engineering Years of Research Experience 4 - 10

Additional Information

• University sports program and workplace health promotion
• TU Graz Welcome Service with advice for relocation, child care, schools, …
• Interesting area of responsibility
• Safe and stable working environment
• Company pension funds
• Collegial and friendly working atmosphere
• International teaching opportunities and training
• Seal of quality for in‑house advancement of women