PhD Positions

Offer Description

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 of Company Law ("Business Law I")

Fulltime, 40 hours/week

Starting September 01, 2027, and limited for 6 Jahren

A qualification agreement will be concluded at the start of the employment (§ 27 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement). 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 qualification agreement have been fulfilled, the employment relationship can be made permanent. Employees who have successfully completed a qualification agreement are classified as associate professors. From an organizational regulation perspective they belong to the group of professors. Three years after successful completion of the qualification agreement, they are entitled to apply for promotion to full professor according to the By-Laws of WU § 43a.

The Institute of Company Law conducts research and teaching in the field of company law and prepares students for their future careers in business, consulting, public administration, or academia. The position offers an excellent opportunity to pursue an academic career.

What to expect

• The advertised position is in the field of corporate law, with a particular focus on foundation law and comparative law, complemented by further specialisation in one of these areas (company law, foundation law, or comparative law). One focus of the position is to contribute to the Institute's teaching programme. The second focus is to strengthen the Institute's position as a leading research institution with national and international visibility in the long term by developing an independent research profile in foundation law and corporate governance.
• For this position, the conclusion of a qualification agreement pursuant to Section 27 of the Collective Agreement will be considered at the beginning of the employment relationship.
• In accordance with the WU Staff Development Plan for post-doctoral tenure-track university assistants, the fixed-term employment contract is concluded for a period of six years. If the qualification agreement, which is also offered, is successfully fulfilled, the fixed-term employment contract may be converted into a permanent employment relationship. Upon successful completion of the qualification agreement, the employee will, under organisational law, become a member of the Professors' Council.

What you have to offer

• Your profile: You have completed a PhD in law and written a doctoral thesis focusing on corporate law, company and foundation law, or comparative law.
• Academic qualifications: You possess outstanding academic qualifications commensurate with your career stage, particularly in corporate law and/or foundation law, as demonstrated by publications and presentations. Knowledge of foundation law or the foundation sector is an advantage.
• Academic mobility: You have experience with academic systems and organisations outside WU, demonstrated by having completed your doctoral studies at another university or, by the planned start date, having completed at least two years of continuous employment as a postdoctoral researcher at another university or a renowned non-university research institution, with a minimum working commitment of 20 hours per week.
• International experience: Ideally, you will have additional international experience gained through research and/or teaching in more than one legal system, either through a PhD completed abroad or through at least two years of postdoctoral work at a foreign research institution following completion of your PhD, including teaching responsibilities.
• Teaching: You are willing and qualified to contribute to the Institute's teaching programme and to help further develop it.
• Research projects: You are willing to independently design and conduct research projects, as well as to secure external funding, and ideally already have relevant experience in these areas.
• Academic events: You are willing to independently design and organise academic events and ideally already have relevant experience in this area.
• Commitment: A demonstrated interest in participating in university self-governance, as well as involvement in non-university activities, is desirable.
• Languages: You have an excellent command of spoken and written German and English.
• Willingness to use multimedia in teaching: You are willing to use and further develop multimedia-based teaching and learning formats.

Required application documents: Cover letter, CV (including a list of publications and presentations). Research proposal (research interests and future research projects, max. 3 pages), teaching proposal (teaching experience and teaching philosophy). Two letters of reference or the names of at least two referees. Additional documents to support your application may also be submitted. Please do not submit full-length academic articles.

For further information regarding the post, please contact Univ.Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Susanne Kalss (susanne.kalss@wu.ac.at, +43-1-31336-4647).

What we offer you:

• Six weeks of vacation/Extra vacation time
• Flexible working hours
• Training opportunities
• A wide range of benefits, from an in-house medical officer to athletic activities and a meal allowance to a variety of employee discounts
• Meaningful work in an open-minded, inclusive, and family-friendly environment
• A modern campus with spectacular architecture in the heart of Vienna
• Inspiring campus life with over 2,400 employees in research, teaching, and administration and approximately 21,500 students
• Excellent accessibility by public transportation

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

The minimum monthly gross salary amounts to €5,980.80 (14 times per year). 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 November 4, 2026 under www.wu.ac.at/jobs (ID 2925).

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

WU is committed to diversity and inclusion and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from women. Not sure if your profile fully matches our requirements? Apply anyway! In case of equal qualification, female candidates will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities will be supported throughout each stage of the recruitment process. Candidates' qualifications will be assessed in the context of their academic age.

Requirements

• Research Field: Juridical sciences » Comparative law
• Education Level: PhD or equivalent

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: Institute of Company Law ("Business Law I")
• Country: Austria
• City: Vienna
• Street: Welthandelsplatz 1
• Postal Code: 1020