Senior Scientist

Universität Wien

Job description:

At the University of Vienna, over 10,000 people work together on the big questions of the future. Approximately 7,500 of them are academic staff members. These are individuals who, with their curiosity and their continuous pursuit of excellence, engage in international cutting-edge research and teaching. With us, you will also find space to unfold your potential. We are looking for a/an 

Senior Scientist

The Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Vienna is the largest Austrian institution of mathematical research and tertiary education in the mathematical sciences. It consists of active research groups in a wide range of fields, starting from logical foundations, bridging all classical core subjects, and up to concrete applications in industry. As part of the Faculty, the Institute of Mathematics represents the entire discipline of mathematics in research and teaching, without making an arbitrary distinction between pure and applied fields.

We are looking for open, innovative and productive colleagues who are willing to work in an international and interdisciplinary environment. You would like that as well? Welcome to our team!

Your professional field of activity:

The research group “Quantum Information and Quantum Many-Body Physics”, led by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Norbert Schuch, is part of both the Faculty of Mathematics and the Faculty of Physics, and member of the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ) – one of the largest quantum hubs in Europe – and the Austrian Cluster of Excellence quantA. The group’s research agenda spans the entire field between Quantum Information and Quantum Computing on the one hand and the study of Complex Quantum Many-Body Systems on the other hand. To this end, the team applies a combination of methods from Mathematics as well as Physics, complemented by concepts from Theoretical Computer Science, ranging all the way from abstract mathematics and theoretical physics to high-performance numerical simulation algorithms.

As a Senior Scientist in the “Quantum Information and Quantum Many-Body Physics” group, associated with the department of Mathematics, you will strengthen the group’s research profile in the mathematical theory of tensor networks and its application in quantum many-body physics and quantum information, as well as the group’s teaching portfolio in the field of quantum information and quantum many-body systems at the Faculty of Mathematics. 

To bolster your own agenda, you will be committed to acquiring third party funding for postdoctoral and doctoral positions. You will actively participate in the quality assurance of teaching materials created by the group. Moreover, you share the team’s view on the importance of a positive, inclusive, and respectful working environment, and will regularly exchange ideas about current topics and projects in group meetings and seminars. Detailed information about the group’s research areas and team can be found on https://schuch.univie.ac.at/.

The start of the contract is December 1st, 2025 or later. The exact starting date is negotiable. The position is initially limited to one year. It may be converted into unlimited employment upon mutual agreement.

Your future tasks:

• You pursue your ambitious independent research agenda at the interface of Quantum Information and Quantum Many-Body Physics, with its focus on the mathematical theory of tensor networks, and the application of this theory to the comprehensive study of mathematical problems in quantum many-body systems.
• You collaborate on research projects with the members of the “Quantum Information and Quantum Many-Body Physics” group, and you actively maintain a network of international scientific collaborations.
• You disseminate your results through publications in renowned peer-reviewed journals, as well as through presentations at international conferences and workshops, and engage in outreach activities aimed at the general public.
• You actively acquire third-party funding for postdoctoral and doctoral positions to bolster your independent research agenda, and participate in collaborative grant applications of local, Austrian, and international initiatives.
• You contribute to teaching according to § 49 paragraph 7 of the collective agreement and independently hold courses and examinations, in particular in the field of Quantum Information and Quantum Many-Body Systems at the Faculty of Mathematics.
• You (co-)supervise bachelor, master, and PhD students, and you independently propose bachelor, master, and PhD projects to this end.
• You participate in evaluation measures and in quality assurance.
• You actively contribute to administrative tasks.

Required Qualifications/Position Requirement:

• a completed doctorate in mathematics or physics, with a certificate of completion provided in due time before the start of the contract
• strong expertise in both mathematics and theoretical physics
• outstanding expertise, proven through international publications in leading journals in the field, in the mathematical theory of tensor networks and in its application to the rigorous 
• mathematical study of problems in quantum many-body systems 
• experience in teaching of lectures in the area of quantum information and quantum many-body systems 
• Proven ability to acquire competitive third-party funding is a strong additional asset.
• excellent command of English, both written and spoken

What we offer:

• Work-life balance: The compatibility of work and private life or work and study is a particularly important concern for us. In consultation with the team and team management, you can therefore organize your working hours flexibly and in a family-friendly manner within the framework of the current flexible and family-friendly working hours and also work partially in a home office.
• Inspiring working atmosphere: You are part of an international team with excellent research infrastructure in a relaxed working environment.
• Good public transport connections: Your new workplace is easily accessible by public transport.
• Climate neutrality - sustainability: The University of Vienna contributes to the achievement of climate goals by means of an adopted sustainability strategy and aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 through the reduction of resource consumption, resource saving and sustainable procurements.
• Fixed-term contract and adequate salary: The basic salary corresponds to the collective agreement for employees of the universities according to § 48 VwGr. B1 lit b basic level (postdoc): EUR 4,932.90 on a full-time basis (before taxes, 14 times per year). The actual salary is finally determined depending on professional experience and qualification. The gross salary covers all benefits of the employee in quantitative and qualitative terms (= all-in payment).
• Internal training and coaching: We offer you ongoing opportunities to deepen your skills. Choose from an extensive range of courses free of charge.
• Benefits: The University of Vienna also offers you numerous benefits, such as a company pension fund, travel allowances, low-cost parking, discounted IT (hardware and software), special rates for language courses offered by the university language center, advancement of women, diversity management and specific career advancement, inclusion, Papamonat, flexible childcare, vacation care for children, health care, vaccination campaigns and fitness offers (special rates for USI sports courses) as well as discounts for employees at various companies.

 
Is your interest in this attractive and varied field of activity with autonomous areas of responsibility now aroused? Would you like to take on this new challenge? To actively contribute to the current and future major scientific issues of the research team around Prof. Dr. Schuch and, above all, to become even better at what you can already do?

Then we are looking forward to you and your meaningful application:

• with your letter of motivation,
• with your scientific curriculum vitae, including a list of publications, talks, as well as (if applicable) of teaching, supervision activities, and grants acquired
• with a research statement, describing your future plans in research (about 2 pages)
• with a copy of a document that confirms the award of your doctorate
• with contact details of three persons who can provide letters of reference upon request

either:

• via our job portal by clicking on "Create Profile - Login & Logout" in the header on the upper right, or
• directly in this job posting by clicking the "Apply now - Button" on the bottom right side.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Norbert Schuch  

norbert.schuch@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 lay special emphasis on increasing the number of women in senior and in academic positions among the academic and general university staff and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.

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​Application deadline: 11/12/2025 

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