Assistant Professor, tenure track, development agreement 

You want to understand how things are connected and make a fundamental impact? We offer an environment where you can realize your full potential. At one of Europe’s largest and most modern business and economics universities. On a campus where quality of work is also quality of life. We are looking for support at the 

Institute for Data, Process and Knowledge Management 
Fulltime, 40 hours/week 
Starting July 1, 2024, and limited for 6 years 

A development agreement can be concluded after a contract duration of two years. Pursuant to WU’s Personnel Development Plan, this position can only be fixed-term for up to six years. Once all objectives agreed upon in the development agreement have been fulfilled, the employment relationship can be made permanent.

You have decided to pursue an academic career and want to conduct research, teach, and be an active member of the scientific community in your field? Then, this Tenure Track Assistant Professor position is an excellent next step in your research career! The position is affiliated with the Institute for Data, Process and Knowledge Management (https://www.wu.ac.at/en/dpkm) in the Semantic Systems workgroup  (https://semantic-systems.org/) lead by Prof. Marta Sabou. The workgroup performs foundational and applied research in the area of (neurosymbolic) Artificial Intelligence (AI). It is very active in basic research and applied research projects both in Austria and internationally. As a Tenure Tracked Assistant Professor in this group, you will have the opportunity to derive and advance your own research in the context of the group’s research focus, and work towards an outstanding academic record in research, teaching, as well as project acquisition and management. As part of the Tenure Track, you will have the possibility to work towards a Habilitation and a permanent tenured Assistant Professor position (Universitiätsdozent*in/university reader) at the end of this contract.

What to expect

• Outstanding research work. You will be conducting excellent research on topics relevant to the group and publish in top journals and conferences. Key areas of interest include (1) novel AI techniques such as neurosymbolic AI, machine learning, semantic web, knowledge graphs; (2) research at the interfaces between AI systems and human society, e.g.,  hybrid-intelligence, ethical AI, human computation, digital humanism as well as (3) the application of AI methods to solve challenges in various domains (e.g., Industry 5.0).

• Project work and acquisition. You will contribute to the several projects running in the group and actively apply for funds at national and European funding agencies.  

• Teaching: You will be planning, designing and teaching courses and holding exams. The teaching load is 4H/semester (roughly equivalent to running two lectures per semester).

• Student support: You will be available to answer students’ questions and act as an advisor for bachelor’s theses and as a co-advisor for master’s theses.

• Performing organizational and administrative tasks: You will be organizing and evaluating teaching activities, planning exams, keeping the budget in mind, contributing to the management of the working group.

• Learning from top researchers: You will be working together with renowned researchers in your field and learning from them.

• Building up a personal network: You will be using the post-doc phase to establish yourself as a researcher and expand your own professional network. To that end, you will benefit from the group’s network of academic and industrial partners.

• Preparing for Habilitation: You will focus on obtaining high quality research work and its publication as necessary for applying for a Habilitation at the WU.

What you have to offer

• Academic degree: You have a Ph.D./doctoral degree in a sub-area of Artificial Intelligence or another related computer science discipline. Ideally you have a minimum of two years of post-doc experience.

• Promising publishing track-record: Your publication record should include papers that you have authored and championed individually, without the support of your Ph.D. supervisor. You have a strong publication record (in relation to your "academic age").

• Advanced skills: You have experience with topics in the area of Neurosymbolic AI, Semantic Web, Knowledge Graphs, Machine Learning. Expertise with other topics in the area of AI is also an advantage.

• Funding acquisition and management skills: You have experience with working  in research projects, as well as applying for funding. Experience in leading research projects and working with industrial partners is an additional advantage. You have a proven record of performing (applied) research related to use cases from several application domains.

• Teaching: You have proven experience of teaching university level courses. Experience with having conducted (or having supported) the supervision of master and Ph.D. thesis is an advantage.

• IT skills: You are familiar with programming languages (e.g., java, python), database technology and SQL, the semantic web technology stack (RDF, OWL, SPARQL, SHACL), machine learning models. Ideally, you also have experience with maintaining open source projects.

• Language skills: You have an excellent command of the English language (both written and spoken). Non-German-speaking candidates will be expected to acquire proficiency in German over a certain period of time.

• Working style: You work independently, show initiative, and have outstanding self-organization skills. You have great social skills and integrate well in the working group.

• Multimedia teaching methods: you are prepared to use multimedia teaching and learning formats.

 
Do you want to join the Institute for Data, Process and Knowledge Management? Then please submit your application including:

• A Motivation Letter

• A detailed Curriculum Vitae including:

  • A full publication list

  • A list of teaching experiences (if applicable)

  • A list of completed/acquired research projects explaining your role in the project (if applicable)

• Transcript of your Doctoral Study, as well as the doctoral thesis

• A Research Statement that relates your expertise and future research vision to the research of the Semantic Systems group and, more broadly, to the DPKMinstitute

• References for additional skills, such as up to 3 (co-)authored research papers, certificates, recommendation letters from academic references

 
We are looking forward to hearing from you! If you have any questions regarding the position or application documents, don’t hesitate to contact Prof. Marta Sabou, marta.sabou@wu.ac.at

What we offer you

• Inspiring campus life with over 2,400 employees in research, teaching, and administration and approximately 21,500 students

• A modern campus with spectacular architecture in the heart of Vienna

• Excellent accessibility by public transportation

• Meaningful work in an open-minded, inclusive, and family-friendly environment

• Flexible working hours

• A wide range of benefits, from an in-house medical officer to athletic activities and a meal allowance to a variety of employee discounts

Curious? Visit our website and find out more at www.wu.ac.at/benefits

The minimum monthly gross salary amounts to €4,752.30 (14 times per year). This salary may be adjusted based on equivalent prior work experience. In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive social benefits.

Do you want to join the WU team?
Then please submit your application by March 20, 2024 (ID 1985).
We are looking forward to hearing from you!