Research and Teaching Associate

Vienna University of Economics and Business; Wien; Hybrid; EUR 29,000 - 34,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Training opportunities

Meal allowance

Benefits range

Campus life

Public transport access

Job summary

Vienna University of Economics and Business is seeking a doctoral researcher for the Institute for Cognition & Behavior. You will enroll in the PhD program, conduct dissertation research, and contribute to both laboratory and online studies focusing on attention, motivation, and social contexts in judgment and behavior.

The role includes planning studies, analyzing data, teaching, attending conferences, and publishing in international journals.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in psychology, cognitive science, economics, business and management that qualifies you for enrollment in a doctoral program at WU.
• Strong background and interest in empirical social science methodology / statistics.
• Experience with online experiment implementation, computational modelling, LLMs, eye-tracking or mouse-tracking welcome but not required on entry.

Responsibilities

• Plan and run laboratory and online studies, analyze behavioral data, and maintain reproducible research materials, data documentation and analysis code.
• Teaching within the specialization “Decision Sciences: Game Theory, Psychology and Data Analysis.”
• Attend international conferences and publish research projects in international journals.

Skills

Empirical methods

Statistics

Online experiments

Computational modelling

LLMs

Eye-tracking

Mouse-tracking

Education

Master’s degree in psychology

Master’s degree in cognitive science

Master’s degree in economics/business

Tools

Statistical software

Experiment software

Eye-tracking hardware

Job description

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 Cognition & Behavior
Part-time, 30 hours/week
Starting as soon as possible, and ending after 6 years

The position is part of the Institute for Cognition and Behavior headed by Prof. Susann Fiedler. We investigate how attention, motivation and social contexts shape judgment and behavior. Current research includes belief formation and updating, motivated cognition and willful ignorance, cooperation and ethical decision, and effects of AI on human judgment, learning and scientific work. We combine laboratory and online experiments with process tracing.

What to expect

• Enroll in the PhD program and conduct your dissertation research at the institute (an active participant pool, an experimental group lab as well as eye-tracking lab will be available). You will be investigating your research topic and spending a third of your working hours on writing your dissertation.
• Plan and run laboratory and online studies, analyze behavioral data, and maintain reproducible research materials, data documentation and analysis code
• Teaching (e.g., within the specialization (SBWL) “Decision Sciences: Game Theory, Psychology and Data Analysis”)
• Attendance of international conferences
• Publication of research projects in international journals

What you have to offer

• Master’s degree in psychology, cognitive science, economics, business and management (alternatively in a related field) that qualifies you for enrollment in a doctoral program at WU
• Interested in one of the following fields: decision making, information processing, cooperation, trust, bounded ethicality, process tracing
• Strong background and interest in empirical social science methodology / statistics
• Ability to formulate testable research questions, justify methodological choices, and critically evaluate alternative explanations and limitations.
• Experience with online experiment implementation, computational modelling, LLMs, eye-tracking or mouse-tracking are welcome. These specialist skills are not required on entry.
• Fluency in English and the ability to explain research ideas clearly in writing and discussion.
• Ability to organize research tasks reliably, collaborate across disciplines, and give and use constructive feedback.
• You are prepared to use multimedia teaching and learning formats

Application materials:

Additional to a conventional motivation letter, please submit short answers to the following two questions (maximum 450 words in total; bullet points are welcome):

1. Describe one methodological decision you made or helped make in a research project, thesis, or coursework assignment. What was your own contribution? Which alternative did you consider, why did you choose your approach, and what limitation remained?

2. Identify a research question within one of the institute’s research areas that you would like to investigate. State a testable hypothesis, briefly outline an experiment, and explain what result would make you reconsider your hypothesis.

We value concrete examples and reflection on limitations. A fully developed research proposal is not expected.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interviews during the first two weeks of December.

Language-editing tools may be used when preparing the application; if generative AI contributed to the substantive content, briefly state how and what you checked; this statement does not count towards the word limit.

What we offer you

• 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 lifewith over 2,400 employees in research, teaching, and administration and approximately 21,500 students
• Excellent accessibility by public transportation

Curious?

Visit our website and find out more at www.wu.ac.at/benefits

The minimum monthly gross salary amounts to €2.832,08 (14 times per year). This salary may be adjusted based on job-related prior work experience. In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive social benefits.

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.