Field of Research & Scope

The PhD position focuses on the changing nature of work and the global labor market for software developers. The successful candidate will collect and study digital traces of software development and merge them with other types of data that describe local labor markets around the globe. Within this area, research questions can be developed related to the future of work, changes in team structures, entrepreneurship, economic geography, innovation, migration and related topics.  

Program Structure

IT:U offers a 3-year, structured PhD program.  
  
The first semester concludes with a PhD Progress Presentation. Over the next years, students will develop and write their PhD theses. This is accompanied by interdisciplinary research seminars. The PhD program concludes with the submission and defense of the PhD thesis.  

We offer

• Collaborations: the research group forms a bridge between IT:U and Linz and CSH in Vienna. It consists of an interdisciplinary team of scholars, with backgrounds in economics, economic geography, economic history, as well as in mathematics, physics and computational social science.
• International mobility and exchange: the research group currently collaborates closely with scholars in Hungary, the US, the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands and encourages research visits to strengthen these ties.
• Professional and personal development: the research group aims to impact public policy through collaborations with local and national governments as well as multilateral organizations such as the World Bank, the European Commission and the OECD. 

Responsibilities & Tasks

• conducting research
• writing academic publications
• attending national and international conferences
• contributing to activities of the research group
• collaborating with other research groups on an interdisciplinary basis
• performing auxiliary activities in academic teaching for up to 2 weekly credit hours
• helping to file applications for third-party funding
• complying with the institution’s academic standards and ethical guidelines 

Skills & Qualifications needed

• Motivated, with a strong interest in the intersection of computer science and economic complexity
• A degree equivalent to a Master's degree in computer science, physics, mathematics or other relevant fields
• The ability to work with and further develop large-scale data pipelines
• A strong affinity with and interest in the field of complexity science
• The ability to participate in interdisciplinary collaborations
• The ability to work and think independently
• Fluent in English 

What you can expect

• Innovative and stimulating working conditions in an interdisciplinary, international research environment
• Office kitchen with complimentary basic supplies
• Climate Ticket Upper Austria (optimal public transportation connections)
• We offer a gross salary in line with the FWF salary rate of EUR 2.832,10 (30h). 
  Optional supplementary contracts (teaching or research) to an extend of up to 10 hours may be discussed during the hiring process. 

How to apply

Please fill in the online application form and upload your files at: https://apply.it-u.at/

• Bachelor’s and Master’s diploma (or equivalent)  
• Bachelor's and Master’s Transcript of Records
• Motivational letter (max. 2 pages)
• Up to 3 contacts of professors/collaborators for recommendations 

We look forward to receiving your online application.

Application deadline: July 31, 2026