Distinguished Researcher in Classical Studies and Director

The Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), Austria’s central non-university research and science institution, is seeking to appoint a new:

Distinguished Researcher

in Classical Studies

and Director at the Austrian Archaeological Institute (F/M/X) 

(full-time, 40 hours per week)

The statutory mission of the OeAW is to “promote science in every aspect”. It fulfils this goal through a total of 27 research institutes that conduct internationally recognized, cutting-edge research across a broad spectrum of disciplines.

The Austrian Archaeological Institute (OeAI) in Vienna is a vibrant and productive hub in the field of archaeology and classical studies. The institute consists of the three departments - Prehistory and Western Asia/North African Archaeology, Historical Archaeology and Classical Studies - which cover the entire professional curriculum and the variety of methods of the represented disciplines. Interdisciplinarity and professional interconnections distinguish the institute, which is expressed in the creation of central facilities for Archaeological Sciences, Digital Sciences and Heritage Sciences. The extensive research infrastructure of the Institute consists of laboratories, workshops, a technical pool and mobile equipment, as well as archives, collections and the largest archaeological professional library in Austria. The Vienna based Institute also has branch offices in Athens, Ephesos, Cairo and Krems.

The OeAI receives basic funding from the OeAW, and additional national and international third-party funding for designated research projects. The institute offers a world-class scientific and collaborative research environment for about 80 scientists and is supported by skilled in-house administrative and technical staff.

Your Tasks

The new Distinguished Researcher should complement and strengthen the institute's outstanding research profile in the field of Classical Studies. The candidate should be open minded, thereby fostering conditions that allow excellent Classical Studies research embedded in a research environment of department’s of Historical Archaeology and Prehistory & West Asian/Northeast African Archaeology, as well as within the numerous social sciences and humanities institutes of OeAW and other research institutions in Vienna.

The position's research focus should be an expertise in the broad portfolio of Classical Studies as represented by the OeAI, for example in Religious Studies, Epigraphy or the History of Ancient Law. This is associated with the leadership of a research group in the respective field. Furthermore, the candidate should have a sound methodological knowledge of, and experience in, digital humanities and an increased interest in their applications and further development across the broad research spectrum of the institute.

At the moment the department of Classical Studies comprises five working groups. In addition to leading a research group, the position is associated with heading the department of Classical Studies with its current five research groups. We are therefore looking for a personality that can not only continue to lead these working groups, but also uses the freedom to further shape them.

Furthermore, the position involves participation in the Institute’s Board of Directors. This includes taking on the position of Deputy Director, respectively that of the Executive Director, with these functions rotating on a regular basis.

Your Profile

The OeAW is looking for a person with strong innovative research ideas and an outstanding scientific track record. The ideal candidate is a creative scientist, expected to have strong leadership and management skills, as well as a strong network within the international scientific community. The success of the candidate’s research should also be reflected in peer-reviewed third-party funding. The OeAW is seeking to appoint a Distinguished Researcher who wishes to continue their cutting-edge research strategy and activities at the OeAI.

Our Offer

We offer an attractive recruitment package, including an internationally competitive salary and a substantial annual research budget (personnel, consumables). The work contract as Distinguished Researcher is tenured.

The working languages at the Institute are German and/or English.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting a detailed application directly to President Heinz Fassmann and Vice President Ulrike Diebold at oeai.search.director@oeaw.ac.at, including the following:

• Cover letter
• Research concept and vision for the strategic development of the OeAI (maximum 4 pages)
• Curriculum vitae, including recent research activities and funding history (maximum 5 pages)
• A list of publications, with PDF files of the four most important ones

The hearings of the candidates will be held in Vienna in the second or third week of February 2026.

Applications should be received by September 15, 2025. Later applications will, however, be considered as long as the position has not yet been filled.

The Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) pursues a non-discriminatory employment policy and values equal opportunities, as well as diversity. Individuals from underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Contact

President Heinz Faßmann and Vice President Ulrike Diebold at oeai.search.director@oeaw.ac.at

ÖAI | 1010 Wien, Österreich

Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften | Austrian Academy of Sciences | www.oeaw.ac.at