Projektassistent.in Post-Doc (all genders)

The Vienna University of Technology is Austria’s largest research and educational institution in the fields of engineering and natural sciences and has been making an indispensable contribution to safeguarding Austria’s international competitiveness and innovative strength as a centre of research for more than 200 years. Under the motto ‘Technology for People’, around 26,000 students and more than 4,000 researchers are engaged in research, teaching and innovation.

A 50% postdoctoral position (20 hours per week), limited to two years, is to be filled from 1 January 2027 in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning as part of the FFG exploratory project ‘INES – Immersive Natural Environments for Stress Reduction’.

Digital immersive technologies open up new possibilities not only for representing landscapes, but also for specifically designing them as regenerative environments. Whilst numerous studies demonstrate the positive effects of ‘nature’ on stress reduction and recovery, there is as yet little understanding of which specific landscape design features elicit these effects, how they are mediated neurophysiologically, and to what extent virtual landscapes can be individually adapted to neurophysiological states.

The FFG-funded project INES is developing the scientific and methodological foundations for neuro-adaptive immersive landscape interventions. To this end, it brings together insights from landscape architecture, environmental psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence and immersive technologies.

The focus is in particular on:
1. the development of an interdisciplinary research framework for investigating virtual landscapes as neuroadaptive spaces for regeneration,
2. the identification of relevant landscape design features and neurophysiological mechanisms of action,
3. the design of experimental studies utilising immersive technologies and physiological measurement methods,
4. the co-creative development of future application scenarios with scientific and practice-oriented stakeholders, and
5. the transfer of the findings obtained into a follow-up research project.

Project details

Project start: January 1st, 2027
Project end: December 31st, 2028

Project team
The research project is being carried out at the Research unit of Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning at TU Wien under the supervision of DI Dr Boris Salak (Project Leader) and Prof. Dr Susann Ahn.

The project is being carried out in cooperation with Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (Research Centre for User-Centred Technologies / Research Division for Social Affairs & Health) and the Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI).

Research funding:
The project is funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) as part of the ‘Digital Technologies – Exploratory Research’ programme

For the INES research project, we are seeking a team member with proven research experience at the interface of landscape, health and digital technologies.

• Contributing to the further development of the project-specific research design
• Researching and analysing the current state of international research
• Co-ordinating and shaping the co-creation process, e.g. planning, organising and conducting (and, where applicable, evaluating) stakeholder workshops and focus groups in collaboration with academic partners and stakeholders from the fields of healthcare, landscape architecture, neuroscience and digital technologies
• Conception, implementation, scientific evaluation and interpretation of empirical surveys and questionnaires
• Identification of scientific, technical and societal requirements for neuroadaptive immersive landscape interventions
• Development of experimental studies utilising immersive technologies (XR/VR) and neurophysiological measurement methods
• Integration of landscape architecture, neuroscience and AI-based approaches into a common research framework
• Carrying out project management, reporting and communication with project partners
• Preparation of scientific publications and conference papers
• Contributing to the development of a larger follow-up project (e.g. FFG or Horizon Europe)

• A completed PhD in landscape planning, landscape architecture, geography, spatial planning, environmental psychology, neuroscience, human-computer interaction or a related field
• Proven experience in academic publishing
• Experience in designing and carrying out empirical research projects
• Knowledge of quantitative research methods and statistical analysis
• Interest in interdisciplinary research at the interface of landscape, digitalisation and health
• Experience with transdisciplinary research processes, co-creation or participatory methods is an advantage
• Substantial experience at the interface of healthcare, landscape architecture, neuroscience and digital technologies is an advantage. We are particularly interested in scientific research experience in the fields of landscape perception, mixed reality, artificial intelligence, physiological measurement methods and quantitative data analysis.
• A high degree of independence and strong commitment
• A structured and reliable approach to work
• Very good communication and teamwork skills
• Excellent command of German is essential.
• Very good English language skills are an advantage.

• The opportunity to contribute to an innovative and interdisciplinary research project at the interface of landscape architecture, neuroscience and digital technologies
• Collaboration with committed, renowned research partners (Vienna University of Technology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences)
• The opportunity to further develop your own academic profile and to secure competitive external funding
• A wide range of internal and external training opportunities, as well as flexible working arrangements
• Family-friendly working time arrangements
• Central location in Vienna and good transport links

For further information, please contact DI Dr Boris Salak (boris.salak@tuwien.ac.at) and have a look at our website https://landscape-tuwien.at/beitrag/projektassistent-in-post-doc.

The Vienna University of Technology aims to increase the proportion of women, particularly in academic leadership roles, and expressly encourages qualified women to apply. Where candidates are equally qualified, women will be given priority, unless there are compelling reasons relating to an equally qualified male candidate. We are committed to employing people with disabilities who possess the relevant qualifications and therefore expressly encourage them to apply

People with disabilities are expressly encouraged to apply. If you have any questions, please contact the University’s Disability Officer, Mr Gerhard Neustätter.

The starting salary is based on salary group B1(b) of the collective agreement for university staff and currently amounts to at least EUR 2,507.15 gross per month, paid 14 times a year, for a working week of 20 hours per year.

We look forward to receiving your application by 21 October 2026 (12:00 CET).

Please send your application documents with the subject line ‘INES Post-Doc’ to: Dr. Boris Salak (boris.salak@tuwien.ac.at).

Application documents:

• Cover letter (max. 2 A4 pages)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• List of publications
• Degree certificates
• Two selected academic publications from the last 5 years
• Contact details of two academic referees