Postdoctoral Fellowship: Postdoc in Food Quality & Microbial Safety – BOKU Vienna

About the role

The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate (Wissenschaftliche*r Mitarbeiter*in mit Doktorat) at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Institute of Food Sciences. This is a part-time replacement position (16 hours per week), fixed-term from 26 September 2026 to 28 February 2027.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research in food quality, focusing on microbial food safety and hygiene.
• Plan and lead independent research projects, including grant proposal writing.
• Present research results at scientific and non‑scientific events in German and English.
• Teach university courses (practical exercises, seminars, lectures) in food quality assurance and food microbiology in German and English.
• Supervise or co‑supervise theses within legal possibilities.
• Support knowledge transfer and early‑career researchers in line with BOKU’s societal responsibility.
• Contribute to the institute’s current research areas, particularly the BOKU competence field “Agricultural Production and Food” and the cross‑cutting theme “Nutrition and Health Security,” and cooperate with internal and external partners.
• Perform administrative tasks within university self‑governance.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

• Completed PhD (Doctorate) in the field of food hygiene and quality.
• Excellent written and spoken German and English.
• Research experience in food quality with a focus on microbial food safety and hygiene.
• Knowledge of microbiological and molecular biology laboratory practice (anaerobic systems, cell culture, qPCR, MALDI‑TOF MS).
• Team and communication skills.
• Initiative and a responsible work style.
• Experience in university teaching (evidence of didactic skills).

Desirable qualifications

• Experience in conducting research projects.
• Experience working with food spoilage organisms.
• Strong social competence, reliability, and independence.

What we offer

• Salary according to Austrian university collective agreement, employment group B1 lit. b: minimum gross monthly salary €2,005.70 (14 payments per year; higher depending on recognised previous experience).
• An attractive personnel development programme and comprehensive social benefits.
• Part‑time position (16 hours/week) with fixed‑term contract.
• BOKU actively promotes gender equality; qualified women are explicitly encouraged to apply and will be given priority if equally qualified. Persons with disabilities and appropriate qualifications are expressly invited to apply.

How to apply

Please send your application including a motivation letter and CV by 27 July 2026 (reference number 142) to:

Personalmanagement, Universität für Bodenkultur, Peter‑Jordan‑Straße 70, 1190 Wien, Austria
Email: [email protected]

Please quote the reference number in all correspondence. Travel and accommodation costs incurred during the recruitment process will not be reimbursed.

Original vacancy