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• Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology

  • Univ.-Prof. Dott. Leonida Fusani MPhil PhD
    
    Research Focus:
    The Department of Cognitive Biology favours a new approach to the study of cognition and communication, in both animals and humans, with firm roots in classical ethology, traditional cognitive science, and behavioural physiology. This approach is pluralistic, and follows Tinbergen's injunction to study any given biological trait from the multiple perspectives of phylogeny (evolutionary history), ontogeny (developmental history), mechanisms (cognitive, neural and hormonal physiology) and function (adaptation). We are strongly committed to experimental evaluation of multiple, testable hypotheses. Both careful and controlled lab experiments, and empirical study of animals in their natural environments, are considered crucial to a complete understanding of most behavioural traits. Thus, we often combine field work with laboratory work, and we attempt to combine the naturalist's eye for species-typical behaviour with the psychologist's search for shared cognitive mechanisms and the physiologist’s approach to unveil mechanisms underlying behaviour.
    
    More information can be found at:
    https://fusanilab.org/

  • Ass.-Prof. Narly Golestani   
    
    Research Focus:
    Research  focuses on the neuroscience of language and of auditory processing. We use functional and structural brain imaging methods such as MRI to study auditory, phonetic, and lexical processing, extending to multilingualism and to dyslexia, and to domain-general processes that modulate and are modulated by language processing and expertise.
    
    More information can be found at:
    http://www.brainandlanguagelab.org/

  • Assoz. Prof. Bernard Wallner
    
    Research Focus:
    We, the Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology (Wallner group), in collaboration with the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology (Schaschl group), are looking for enthusiastic postdocs with experience in behavioral genetics/genomics. We are particularly interested in understanding the functional genetics of behavior of Japanese macaques living in our field station at Affenberg Landskron. We also interested to use genomics and gene expression studies to elucidate genetic networks involved in different behaviours. Active participation in the research and administration of the MSCA grant is expected. In addition, we expect MSCA postdocs to develop an independent research profile through active participation in scientific meetings, conferences, preparation of peer reviewed publications, and mentoring of students. We provide mentoring, trainings and infrastructure. The University of Vienna provides in addition non-research oriented transferable skills and training, a highly competitive salary and social security in accordance with Austrian law.
    
    More information can be found at
    https://www.behaviour.univie.ac.at/about-us/academic-staff/bernard-wallner/ 
• Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research

  • Assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr. Gerald Schneeweiss, Privatdoz.
    
    Research Focus:
    plant taxonomy and evolution; phylogeography
    
    More information can be found at:
    https://plantbiogeography.univie.ac.at/ 
    
    
  • Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Hanna Schneeweiss, Privatdoz.
    
    Research Focus
    Plant genome evolution; Chromosomal evolution; Polyploidy in plants; Repetitive DNA dynamics and evolution
    
    More information can be found at
    https://cytogenetics.univie.ac.at/ 
• Neurosciences and Developmental Biology

  • Ass.-Prof. Dr. Oleg Simakov
    
    Research Focus:
    - Comparative genomics
    - metazoan genomic architecture
    - synteny conservation
    - transposable elements
    
    More information can be found at:
    https://molevodevo.univie.ac.at/research/research-oleg-simakov/
• Department of Evolutionary Anthropology

  • Assoz.Prof. Dr. Katerina Douka
    
    Research Focus:
    We investigate major questions linked to human evolution through the development and application of new biomolecular techniques, namely palaeoproteomics and radiometric dating. We focus on the taxonomic identification of collagenous materials and we routinely work on ancient bones, whether unidentifiable osteological remains or worked osseous artefacts, for their taxonomic identification and reliable dating. While our work traditionally has revolved around Pleistocene Eurasia, especially focusing on the dating and discovery of Neanderthal and Denisovan remains and their associated sites, we are very much interested in less archaeologically researched parts of the world. We welcome candidates with ideas that fit these analytical methods, from any part of the world.
    
    More information can be found at
    doukalab.univie.ac.at

  • Prof. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Higham
    
    Research Focus:
    Human evolution, radiocarbon dating, accelerator mass spectrometry, Bayesian modelling and calibration, Neanderthals and Denisovans
    
    More information can be found at:
    https://highamlab.univie.ac.at/

  • Ass.-Prof. Dr. Martin Kuhlwilm
    
    Research Focus:
    Bioinformatic analysis of genomic data, method development for detecting admixture in genomes of different species, computational modeling of population history, paleogenomics
    
    More information can be found at:
    https://admixture.univie.ac.at/
• Department of Evolutionary Biology

  • Assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr. Philipp Mitteroecker
    
    Research Focus:
    I have studied the development and evolution of human and primate anatomy, including the individual variation and perception of human faces, with medical applications to orthodontics. I am particularly interested in the interaction of developmental, environmental, and evolutionary processes. Another current research focus is on human childbirth: an evolutionary conundrum involving biological, environmental, and sociocultural dynamics.
    I am fascinated by the analysis of complex biological data, including morphological, behavioral, and genetic data. I have contributed to modern morphometrics, the statistical analysis of biological form, as well as to multivariate biostatistics and quantitative genetics.
    
    More information can be found at:
    https://theoretical.univie.ac.at/people/permanent-scientific-staff/philipp-mitteroecker/

  • Prof. DDr. Andreas Wanninger
    
    Research Focus:
    Research in the Wanninger group involves a variety of aspects of invertebrate development and evolution (EvoDevo, MorphoEvoDevo). Research is mostly on aquatic invertebrates with a strong focus on animals with a ciliated larva in their life cycle (lophotrochozoans), but we are also very much interested in other protostomes such as chelicerates (e.g., pycnogonids), crustaceans, or lesser-known clades. We use a wide range of state-of-the-art morphological, molecular, and in silico methods including immunolabeling, confocal and electron microscopy, imaging, in situ hybridisation, single cell RNA sequencing, as well as transcriptomics and genomics. To this end, we have generated a broad database of stage-specific transcriptomes of some of our target species. These can be mined for specific genes and research questions of interest. This dataset, together with the species used in the lab, is continuously increasing in order to carry out broad, comparative projects. We aim at expanding our team, projects, and research taxa, and thus invite everyone with an interest in exciting animal groups and research topics to contact us. 
    
    More information can be found at:
    https://zoology.univie.ac.at/people/scientific-staff/andreas-wanninger/
• Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology

  • Assoz. Prof. Dr. Silvia Bulgheresi, Privatdoz.
    
    Research Focus
    microbial symbioses, prokaryotic cell biology, prokaryotic cell division, chromosome conformation, chromosome segregation, nematode-bacterium symbioses, multicellular bacteria, oral cavity symbionts, microbial epigenetics
    
    More information can be found at
    https://archaea.univie.ac.at/research/silvia-bulgheresi-lab/ 
  • Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Griebler
    
    Research Focus:
    Groundwater Ecology - Research is focused on biogeochemistry and biodiversity in groundwater ecosystems reaching from viruses to microorganisms and fauna.
    
    More information can be found at:
    n/a
  • Ass.-Prof. Dr.-Ing Steffen Waldherr
    
    Research Focus
    Computational systems biology; Metabolic network reconstruction and analysis; Machine learning for biochemical and physiological data
    
    More information can be found at
    https://mosys.univie.ac.at/research-and-teaching/research-groups/computational-methods-for-systems-biology/ 
• Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology

  • Assoz. Prof. Dr. Florian Raible   
    
    Research Focus:
    Comparisons across animal groups suggests that stem-cell based regeneration – including regeneration of the central nervous system – is likely an ancestral feature, but has been secondarily lost in mammals and other taxa. Annelid worms have unique value for studying this process, as they are known to modulate regenerative capacity by virtue of brain-derived endocrine factors. Moreover, these brain-derived factors orchestrate various other developmental processes – ranging from bristle shapes to the trigger of reproductive maturation, and even the timing of death. Research into individual factors and their function therefore provides unique experimental and mechanistic access to fascinating and fundamental aspects of biology.
    
    Our group combines molecular profiling (RNAseq, proteomics), functional experimentation (knock-outs, transgenics), multimodal imaging, cellular profiling (scRNAseq approaches), physiological experiments, and behavioral analyses to advance research into the molecular orchestration of regeneration, reproduction and metamorphosis. Most of our work focuses on the marine bristleworm Platynereis dumerilii that we have helped to push as an experimental system, but we also follow comparative approaches to selected invertebrate groups (like sponges and cephalopods) and vertebrates. Our efforts in exploring the bristleworm as a unique system for stem cell biology are embedded in a larger Vienna-wide effort to address the molecular mechanisms of stem cell differentiation and regeneration, including other teams at the Perutz Labs, the Vienna BioCenter and the wider Vienna area. 
    
    More information can be found at:
    https://www.maxperutzlabs.ac.at/research/research-groups/raible
• Department of Nutritional Science

  • Univ.-Prof. Dipl. oec. troph. Dr. Ina Bergheim
    
    Research Focus:
    
    • The Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Vienna is divided into several working groups focusing on various areas of nutritional sciences related to the impact of foods/ food ingredients on human health and herein especially healthy aging. The research of the group “Molecular Nutritional Sciences” focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of steatotic liver diseases (MASLD and ALD), aging associated cognitive decline, and immune responsiveness and the impact of nutrition as well as different diets herein. The interaction of nutrients and alcohol, respectively, with the intestinal barrier function and the role of these interactions in the development of liver diseases and aging associated decline of the liver and brain as well as the immune response are the main focus in our research. Using different model organisms and human intervention studies, findings from these studies are then used for developing new strategies to prevent and cure metabolic liver diseases as well as aging associated liver degeneration and to improve immune response. 
    
    More information can be found at: https://nutrition.univie.ac.at/en/research/professorship-molecular-nutritional-sciences-univ-prof-dr-ina-bergheim/
• Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

  • Univ.-Prof. Dr. Verena Dirsch
    
    Research Focus:
    Scientists at the Division of Pharmacognosy identify or use natural products (from plants, fungi or microorganisms) to understand biological processes that may be of potential interest for pharmaceutical use. Major expertise bundled at the Department is the identification and isolation of bioactive small molecules by high-tech analytics, chemometric and chemoinformatic activity prospecting (Rollinger lab), bioprospecting and synthetic biology of bacteria and fungi for drug discovery (Zotchev lab), as well as mammalian cell signaling studies targeted by natural products (Dirsch lab). A unique and dynamically developing environment within pharmaceutical sciences is available that provides the opportunity to work productively at the interface of chemistry and biology.
    
    More information can be found at: https://pharmakognosie.univie.ac.at

  • Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thierry Langer
    
    Research Focus:
    Computational Life Sciences :
    This research focus coordinates the numerous activities at the Faculty that focus on applying and developing information technologies in the life sciences. In addition to forming topic-related clusters, this key research area is aimed at the interdisciplinary establishment of new methods in the fields of pharmacoinformatics, in-silico metabolomics, proteomics and bioinformatics, genomic evolution, sequence-function relationships, multiomics methods, machine learning, deep learning and artificial intelligence, as well as structural and systems biology. Particular emphasis is laid on processing high-throughput biological data, the development of mathematical methods for modelling biological and biomolecular systems, large-scale metagenome analyses, computational drug design, molecular informatics, as well as data integration and data mining.
    
    This key research area cooperates closely with other centres and faculties, the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Max Perutz Labs. The move to the new location at the Vienna Biocenter Campus will further intensify the existing cooperation with the Center for Integrative Bioinformatics Vienna (CIBIV).
    
    More information can be found at
    https://pharmchem.univie.ac.at 
  • Assoz. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Julien Orts, M.Sc. PhD
    
    Research Focus
    Our laboratory is focusing on Drug Discovery by advanced NMR methods, including integrated methods for fast protein-ligand complex structure determination, NMR based drug design, protein allostery, and thermodynamics of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions. We apply these techniques to therapeutically relevant receptors in-house or in collaborations with pharmaceutical industries.
    
    More informatio can be found at
    https://bionmr.univie.ac.at/research/ 

  • Prof. Dr. Christoph Rademacher
    
    Research Focus:
    The skin represents an attractive organ for the application of novel vaccines since it harbours a large reservoir of resident immune cells capable of eliciting a systemic response against antigens. In particular, Langerhans cells (LCs) are located in the epidermis, the upper layer of the skin. Insight generated over the past decades has highlighted the ability of LCs to promote a systemic cytotoxic T cell response. These responses were primarily investigated using antibody-based delivery of antigens to LCs and were especially effective when Langerin was used as a targeted receptor. Langerin is a LC-restricted C-type lectin receptor. We have developed a small molecule ligand specific for Langerin that we here explore as the basis for antigen delivery via liposomal formulations [Wamhoff et al. (2019)]. These nanoparticulate formulations can encapsulate small molecules and protein antigens and release their cargo intracellularly [Schulze et al. (2019)]. We were able to show specific uptake of these liposomes into Langerin-expressing model cells as well as primary human LCs. Furthermore, we study their endosomal fate and intracellular processing. Overall, these highly specific nanoparticles potentially build the basis for innovative delivery of vaccines via the skin.
    Keywords: DC-based vaccines, vaccines, immunology, targeted delivery, dermatology, C-type lectins, glycobiology.
    
    More information can be found at:
    https://mdt.univie.ac.at/

  • Assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr. Anna Weinzinger, Privatdoz
    
    Research Focus
    The Weinzinger lab studies the dynamic molecular mechanisms of ion channel physiology and pathophysiology with a special focus on rare ion channel diesease. We use various computational methods including long scale molecular dynamics simulations, docking etc. and patch-clamp electrophysiology to validate computational findings.
    
    More information can be found at
    https://pharmtox.univie.ac.at/ 

  • Ass. Prof. Marietta Zille, PhD
    
    Research Focus:
    Cerebrovascular diseases, such as stroke, brain hemorrhage, and dementia, are the leading causes of death and disability and present an enormous socioeconomic burden worldwide. Current estimates predict that their prevalence will further increase as 25 % of the population will be over 65 years of age by 2030.
    Current explicative models of these diseases account for signs and symptoms that are already present in affected patients. However, we now know that these diseases are life-spanning processes that start silently at least 20 to 30 years before symptoms are perceived. It is therefore difficult to identify real cause from mere consequences.
    Our research group aims to identify the underlying etiology of cerebrovascular disease and brain aging in addition to studying its pathophysiology in order to identify novel targets and to develop innovative therapies for prevention, cytoprotection, regeneration, and recovery of motor and cognitive function that are limited in patients suffering from these devastating diseases.
    
    More information can be found at:
    https://pharmtox.univie.ac.at/research/cerebrovascular-pharmacology-prof-zille/

  • Univ.-Prof. Dr Sergey Zotchev
    
    Research Focus:
    Natural products from microorganisms;
    Genetics and biochemistry of natural product biosynthesis;
    Biosynthetic engineering; Bacterial genomics;
    Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology
    
    More information can be found at:
    https://pharmakognosie.univie.ac.at/people/zotchev-sergey-b/