One Research Assistant (12 Hrs/Week)
Interested in the politics of pharmaceutical innovation and the global health crisis of antimicrobial resistance?
The ERC research project ALTERBIOTIC is offering a position for one Research Assistant (MA-level), starting with 12 hours per week, with the potential to increase hours.
About the Project:
ALTERBIOTIC explores the pressing global health crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from the perspective of the politics of innovation. The project examines how a new biomedical research field is emerging to address the ‘broken system’ of antibiotic R&D. It focuses on the actors and stakeholders seeking to develop a radically altered antimicrobial innovation ecosystem by establishing alternative frameworks for biomedical research, development, commercialization, and deployment of new therapies. ALTERBIOTIC investigates the visions, challenges, and barriers facing this emerging field in its efforts to create a viable innovation ecosystem that supports a safe, equitable, and sustainable approach to tackling AMR.
ALTERBIOTIC is a five-year research project funded by the European Research Council (ERC-2024-StG N° 101163944), led by Assist.-Prof. Dr. Christian Haddad (Dept. of Science & Technology Studies and Department of Sociology, University of Vienna).
Job Description:
- Conduct literature reviews and summarize key debates relevant to the ALTERBIOTIC project, including fields such as medical STS, innovation policy, and valuation studies.
- Assist in data collection, preparation, and analysis, including policy documents, media reports, online events, and expert interviews (transcription and coding).
- Support qualitative data analysis and contribute to the preparation of research outputs (e.g., reports, presentations, academic publications).
- Help set up and maintain a project website.
- Provide administrative and organizational support for project-related events, workshops, and meetings.
- Support preparation and organization of the project’s kickoff workshop in the Winter Semester 2025.
Your Profile:
- Master’s student in STS, interested in writing an MA thesis on a topic related to the project’s main objectives. These include global health R&D, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pharmaceutical innovation, microbial studies, among others.
- Interest in developing a specialization in medical STS (especially aspects of medical innovation).
- Ability to work independently, manage tasks efficiently, and collaborate within an interdisciplinary research environment.
- Very good proficiency in English; good German is an asset.
- Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
What We Offer:
- A stimulating, supportive research environment with opportunities to contribute to a multi-faceted research project, partake in cutting-edge discussions on medical STS, global health, and innovation policy, and gain first-hand insights into ongoing empirical research.
- Opportunities to develop and write an MA thesis embedded in the project.
- The possibility to co-author publications and participate in conferences and workshops.
- Participation in various formats, including a reading group to engage with key debates and build a thorough specialization in medical STS and critical innovation studies.
- A salary of EUR 1,349.60 (for a 20-hour basis).
How to Apply:
Please enclose one unified application document (PDF) that includes the following:
- Letter of intent (max. 2 pages)
- Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages)
- One writing sample (term paper, essay, blog, etc.)
Please mention if you already have an idea for a potential MA thesis topic broadly related to the topics covered by ALTERBIOTIC, as mentioned above.
We welcome applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Please apply by March 31, 2025, by sending an email to christian.haddad@univie.ac.at.
