The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)

The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, the “Alma Mater Viridis”, is the University of Sustainability and Life Sciences. It is BOKU’s task to make a key contribution to the conservation and protection of resources for future generations through its wide variety of expertise. Combining natural sciences, engineering plus social and economic sciences, its aim is to increase knowledge of the ecologically and economically sustainable use of natural resources. With 10,000 students and over 2,900 staff members, BOKU is one of Europe’s leading life science universities.

Homepage: https://boku.ac.at/

The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) seeks to appoint a Full Professor of Soil Microbiology with 1st October 2025. The position is offered in accordance with §98 of the 2002 Universities Act in the form of an ongoing contract.

The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, the “Alma Mater Viridis”, is the University of Sustainability and Life Sciences. It is BOKU’s task to make a key contribution to the conservation and protection of resources for future generations through its wide variety of expertise. Combining natural sciences, engineering plus social and economic sciences, its aim is to increase knowledge of the ecologically and economically sustainable use of natural resources. With 10,000 students and over 2,900 staff members, BOKU is one of Europe’s leading life science universities.

The central fields of activity of the ‘Department of Forest and Soil Sciences’, which will be part of the new ‘Department of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity’ from 1st January 2025, are research and research-led teaching on the analysis, modelling and management of forest ecosystems as well as on soil use and soil protection. The department’s research expertise is unique in Austria and covers the entire production chain from soil to ecosystem services.

Teaching and research at the Institute of Soil Science, where the professorship will be based, will focus on various spatial levels, from molecular and microbial processes to ecosystem dynamics and processes at landscape level. The focus is on linking soil processes with ecosystem functions, soil development, soil resilience and resistance as well as nutrient turnover. Another focus is on the effects of climate change and soil management on soils from different land uses (agriculture, forestry).

The infrastructure of the Institute includes several laboratories for soil microbiology, gas analysis, soil chemistry, soil physics, rhizosphere ecology and stable isotope analysis. The institute has sites in Vienna and Tulln. In the field, fully automated greenhouse gas measurements are carried out in and above the soil at several locations.

The applicant should be involved in soil microbiology as a core competence in research and teaching. Based on soil microbiology, the professorship should be dedicated to topics such as the importance of soil health for food security, the significance of soil microbiological processes for the climate, the promotion of soil biodiversity and the optimisation of nutrient use efficiency. The professorship should have an understanding of the systemic relationships between soil and society. BOKU expects interdisciplinary research approaches within the university as well as national and international networking. An important task of this professorship is also personnel development at the institute, in particular the promotion of junior scientists.

Teaching in the field of soil microbiology includes lectures, tutorials and excursions in German and English as well as the supervision of Bachelor’s and Master’s theses and dissertations. Teaching also requires participation in interdisciplinary events and practical exercises as well as integration and cooperation with doctoral schools at BOKU. In addition to this teaching activity, co-operation in the further development of curricula is expected. As soil science and soil microbiology are cross-cutting topics, numerous master’s programmes deal with soil (e.g. International Master in Soils and Global Change, Environment and Bio-Resources Management, Climate Change and Societal Transformation, Green Building, Natural Resource Management and Ecological Engineering, Environmental Science: Soil, Water, Biodiversity). Together with the Institute’s staff, the underlying Bachelor’s degree programmes ‘Environmental Engineering’, ‘Landscape Planning and Landscape Architecture’ and ‘Agricultural Sciences’ are also supervised in the field of soil science.

Job specifications

• Venia docendi or international equivalent or a subject-relevant academic qualification, that is equivalent to a habilitation.
• Relevant experience and competence in teaching, guidance in scientific work, as well as the supervision of junior scientists (PhD students).
• Subject-specific research experience, national and international reputation, as well as ability to network.
• Excellent publication achievements in the scientific field.
• Sound international research experience.
• Teaching in German and English.
• Experience in the successful acquisition, execution and management of research projects.
• Cooperation with national and international research institutions and with relevant partners from public services and business.
• Management and interpersonal skills including skills in gender and diversity management, inclusion and accessibility in communication; communication and team skills
• Participation in public relations.
• Participation in relevant focus and cooperation programs of the University.
• Participation in the self-governance of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken German and English or willingness to learn German in the first two years.

Please submit your application as single PDF file (LastName_FirstName.pdf) containing the information mentioned below in English via email to the Rectorate of the University of Natural Ressources and Life Sciences Vienna (berufungen@boku.ac.at) no later than 15th September 2024.

Please include the following documents with your application:

• Brief explanation of why you believe yourself to be particularly suitable for this position (max. 1 page A4)
• CV including ORCID and details of professional, teaching and research activities, including a teaching portfolio – further information is available at http://short.boku.ac.at/teachingportfolio
• Draft concept for research and teaching; presentation of planned research priorities (max. 4 pages A4)
• List of publications (referenced / not referenced), presentations and projects
• Copies of 5 recent publications that you consider particularly important

By submitting the application, you also agree to the participation of an external recruitment consultant in the selection process.

The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna is seeking to increase the number of its female faculty members and therefore, qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply. Women are given priority when qualifications are equal, except in cases where there are outweighing factors concerning another candidate.

People with disabilities and appropriate qualifications are specifically encouraged to apply.

The employment contract is classified as group A1 of the collective agreement for university employees. Minimum gross yearly salary: € 89,075; the actual annual gross salary is subject to negotiation.

More information on this position and about BOKU and this department can be found on the website: https://boku.ac.at/en/pers/themen/jobboerse