The Cognitive Science Research Platform at the University of Vienna is offering three interdisciplinary PhD positions (30h/week). The platform aims to foster the strong research-based Cognitive Science profile at the University of Vienna, from joint PhD projects to larger interfaculty research projects. Candidates must apply with a project proposal that corresponds to at least one of the research foci listed below. Applications at the interface of these areas are strongly encouraged and given priority (for a more detailed description of each research focus please visit us at cogsci.univie.ac.at):
- Cognitive Research in Art History (Professor Raphael Rosenberg)
- Psychological Aesthetics (Professor Helmut Leder)
- Vision (Professor Ulrich Ansorge)
- Animal Cognition (Professor Thomas Bugnyar)
- Cognitive Biology (Professor Tecumseh Fitch)
- Social Neuroscience (Professor Claus Lamm, Ass.-Prof. Christoph Eisenegger)
- Innovation and Extended Mind (Professor Markus Peschl)

Successful candidates are expected to have a master's degree and scientific experience related to the field(s) of their proposed project. They will be selected in a competitive admission procedure.
Applications should include a letter of motivation; a CV; a list of publications; a project proposal (max. 2 pages); a copy of the diploma and the diploma supplement; and an electronic copy of the master thesis including an abstract or one publication that is relevant to the proposed project. Applications should be sent via the Job Center of the University of Vienna, between July 1 and July 22, 2014 (https://univis.univie.ac.at/ausschreibungstellensuche/flow/bew_ausschreibung-flow?_flowExecutionKey=_c0FAD200B-2F86-91F3-0CC1-9D911707FD6A_kE02C939C-831D-4E91-B5BD-D1D48B232053). The interviews are scheduled to take place in August/early September, 2014.
The starting date of the positions is negotiable, earliest October 1, 2014. The positions are fixed-term, ending February 28, 2017. Salary will be in accordance with collective bargaining agreement (§48 VwGr. B1). On top of this relevant chargeable work experience determines the assessment to a particular salary grade. For questions please do not hesitate to contact the platform coordinators by e-mail (cogsciunivie.ac.at).
The successful candidate awaits a lively research network, including individual mentoring and supervision; regular PhD activities and training in rigorous scientific methodology; a regular PhD colloquium; regular lab visits to the participating institutions; and support for student initiatives (e.g., journal clubs). The regular working place will mainly be Vienna, which has repeatedly been ranked as one of the world's most livable cities.

Research Foci
Remember, candidates must apply with a project proposal that corresponds to at least one of the research foci listed below. Applications at the interface of these areas are strongly encouraged and given priority.

Cognitive Research in Art History (Prof. Raphael Rosenberg, kunstgeschichte.univie.ac.at)
The Laboratory for Cognitive Research in Art History is part of the Department for Art History, one of the oldest and largest institutions of its type. We use cognitive methods ranging from questionnaires to physiological measurements (especially eye tracking) to determine how the qualities of the work (form and content), of the observer (individually and culturally), and of the context affect the beholding of aesthetic objects.

Psychological Aesthetics (Prof. Helmut Leder, aesthetics.univie.ac.at)
The research focus "Psychological Aesthetics" has grown into one of the most active research groups in empirical aesthetics today. The group has a special interest in Psychology of the Arts, but also covers related research topics such as facial attractiveness, visual perception, and design appreciation. The group's research relies on a variety of cognitive and physiological methods, and it is carried out in behavioral, eye-movement, and facial EMG laboratories. We plan to extend our research in conjunction with art history, the psychology of attention, or to perform research in the domain of neuroscience and hormonal effects on preferences.

Vision (Prof. Ulrich Ansorge, kogni-psy.univie.ac.at)
The Vision Science group investigates processes of human visual attention and the division of labor between conscious and unconscious vision. Fitting PhD candidates would combine rigorous vision research with investigations into art or social behavior, or aim to advance our basic knowledge of vision. The available infrastructure includes eye trackers, EEG, and an excellent working culture in an inspiring team.

Animal Cognition (Prof. Thomas Bugnyar, cogbio.univie.ac.at)
The Animal Cognition research group is interested in social behavior and cognition from an evolutionary perspective, addressing Tinbergen’s four questions (mechanism, function, ontogeny, phylogeny) and combining concepts and methods of behavioral biology and comparative psychology. The focus is on large-brained animals like corvids, parrots, and primates and is conducted under captive and field conditions. The broad questions are: (i) which abilities do individuals require to solve problems in daily life with others, (ii) what types of mental representation underlie these abilities and (iii) how are such skills acquired and transmitted.

Cognitive Biology (Prof. Tecumseh Fitch, cogbio.univie.ac.at)
The Cognitive Biology research group is interested in the biology and evolution of cognition and communication. In their current projects they examine the pattern-discovery capabilities of a wide range of vertebrate species. This research includes brain-imaging, examining the similarities and differences between the brain circuits underlying music and language. Research on the evolution of music and language stresses the value of the comparative approach, in detailing which human mechanisms in processing complex signals are shared with other animals. Research in empirical aesthetics uses multiple methodologies (touchscreens, web experiments, eye tracking) to understand how people produce complex, ordered patterns, and why we like such patterns.

Social Neuroscience (Prof. Claus Lamm, Ass.-Prof. Christoph Eisenegger, scan.psy.univie.ac.at)
The SCAN-Unit conducts research in the fields of social, cognitive and affective neuroscience. A major research focus is human social cognition and behavior, and in particular the biological and psychological mechanisms of empathy and prosociality. Additional research interests include decision making, neuroeconomics, and the interaction of emotion and cognition. The research methods of the SCAN-Unit are comprised of systems-level neuroscientific methods such as fMRI, EEG, TMS, tDCS, eye tracking, as well as neuropharmacology and neuroendocrinology. Through the Ph.D. position, we intend to tighten our interdisciplinary collaborations with other groups, including in particular the Animal Cognition, but also the Vision and Psychological Aesthetics Groups.

Innovation and Extended Mind (Prof. Markus Peschl, www.univie.ac.at/knowledge/peschl/)
The research focus on “Innovation and Extended Mind” investigates processes of innovation and knowledge creation in various domains: individual (cognitive), collective/social (teams, organizations), epistemological, and physical/technological (e.g., architecture). The concept of Enabling Spaces integrates these domains on the theoretical basis of the extended mind approach to cognition. Our research is driven by the question of how (radically) new knowledge comes about (in collaborative settings), and how it can be enabled by designing supporting environmental processes and structures.