Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences

The Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences promotes innovative, excellent, problem-oriented research that aspires to contribute to societal debates and address key global challenges.

The cohorts trained and supported by the ViDSS are part of a vibrant research environment and international networks. The ViDSS encompasses and fosters connections between a broad range of disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives. The ViDSS embraces the entire range of epistemological, methodological and theoretical approaches that are employed at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Doctoral candidates receive research training and write a doctoral thesis in the fields of communication, demography, development studies, nursing science, political science, science and technology studies, social and cultural anthropology, and sociology. The ViDSS aims for the highest standards in doctoral training and close supervision to ensure a mastery of social scientific debates and relevant theories and methods. As a result, ViDSS graduates are highly employable both within and outside academia.

PhD in the spotlight

Fellowship and award winners

Marietta Blau-Grant for students in our programme

The Marietta Blau-Grant offers financial support for six- to twelve-month study periods abroad. Lena Dege-Barron (development studies) will stay in Mexico, Antonia Modelhart (political science) will use the grant to continue her research in Australia, Finland and Italy. Congratulations!

Media articles and press releases

When your boss is a collective

Collective property in pastures and forests does not only affect the co-owners but also personnel employed seasonally on common alpine pastures as herders or for dairying. Lisa Francesca Rail gives an overview of the types of commons typical for the Austrian Alps and explains how labor conditions and wages are affected when employers are not natural persons but collectives. (In German)

Radio and podcast

The race for critical raw materials

In the Ö1 Podcast “Dimensionen”, political scientist Gabriel Eyselein provides insight into the European raw-material policy and raw materials’ criticality. In the face of geopolitical tensions and global competition, the EU is reassessing its strategies for securing these raw materials. (In German)

Radio and podcast

Episode 16 – Creating impact

While most PhDs have accepted that their research probably won’t change the world, they at least want to make some impact on society. But how? We talk to Nora Hansl and Stefan Sonntagbauer about strategies of making research more impactful and their experiences of being personally impacted by their research fields including parent-child relationships and ghost encounters.

Fellowship and award winners

ÖAW DOC Fellowships for students in our programme

Three doctoral candidates in the Social Sciences are among this year’s recipients of a DOC Fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Congratulations to Lena Dege-Barron (development studies), Gwen Göltl (sociology) and Melanie Saumer (communication)!

Media articles and press releases

South America as China’s new backyard

Anna Preiser explains in an interview why China’s interest in South America is not only a continuation of the colonial history of the continent. For South American governments, investment from Asia may strengthen their position towards the old imperialist powers. Nevertheless, South American countries continue to be in a disadvantaged position in global trade. (In German)

Media articles and press releases

Diversity and health

Access to healthcare depends on identity markers such as gender, age or social background. Together with Awa Naghipour, Lucia Mair explains why discrimination in the healthcare system manifests in medical knowledge, treatments, social interactions and the architecture of clinics. To understand why health is unequally distributed we also need to look beyond the healthcare system. (In German)

Blog

Amazon in the Arctic

(by Katrin Schmid)

“Do you mind if we swing by the hub on our way home?” We drive along the paved road through the industrial area of town, toward Iqaluit International Airport, then turn right, away from the passenger parking lot and towards a warehouse with yellow pillars out front. A large sign reads, “Canadian North, seriously northern,” yet this sign is misleading – a mark of begone ...

Radio and podcast

International treaty on the use of genetic resources

Paul Dunshirn was interviewed for Ö1 “Journal um acht” about the international efforts to regulate the use of genetic resources. He explains why the new treaty of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) affects especially those companies who have benefited from the lack of regulation so far and why this indeed comes down to the question of who owns nature. (In German)

New publications by ViDSS students

Multilingual Challenges: Empirical Social Research in Migration Societies, Transnational Spaces, and International Contexts. / Holzinger, Clara ; Draxl, Anna-Katharina.

Social Inclusion, 2026.

Publications: Book › Special Issue › Peer Reviewed

Sustainable flying? The effects of greenwashed claims in airline advertising on perceived greenwashing, brand outcomes, and attitudes toward flying. / Neureiter, Ariadne (Corresponding author); Hirsch, Melanie ; Matthes, Jörg et al.

In: Environmental Communication, Vol. 18, No. 7, 10.2024, p. 873 – 890 .

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

Revisiting Reflexivity: Liveable Worlds in Research and Beyond. / Davies, Sarah (Editor); Schikowitz, Andrea (Editor); Mora-Gámez, Fredy (Editor) et al.

Bristol University Press, 2024. (Dis-positions: Troubling Methods and Theory in STS).

Publications: Book › Collection › Peer Reviewed

The Structural and Temporal Curb of Populism: A Cross-Country Analysis of Authoritarian Populist Influences on Journalism. / Radl, Marlene; Celik, Burce; Toth, Fanni et al.

In: Journalism Studies, 26.09.2024.

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

“Do you practice what you preach?” : The effects of celebrities' pro-environmental messages on social media on young adults’ pro-environmental behavior. / Quesada Baena, Luis; Binder, Alice ; Neureiter, Ariadne et al.

In: Young Consumers, 12.09.2024.

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

In: Health Communication, 11.09.2024.

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

Four eyes, two truths: Explaining heterogeneity in perceived severity of digital hate against immigrants. / Kirchmair, Thomas ; Koban, Kevin ; Matthes, Jörg.

In: Communications - The European Journal of Communication Research, Vol. 49, No. 3, 05.09.2024, p. 468-490.

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

Blurring Boundaries: A longitudinal analysis of skills required in journalism, PR, and marketing job ads. / Bernhard, Jana; Russmann, Uta.

In: Journalism & mass communication quarterly, Vol. 101, No. 3, 09.2024, p. 612-636.

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

"I can't see the forest for the ticks, uhm, trees…” : The role of online forums in parents’ vaccination trajectories. / Paul, Katharina Theresa (Corresponding author); Pichelstorfer, Anna ; Hansl, Nora et al.

In: Social Science & Medicine, Vol. 357, 117183, 09.2024.

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

The more you know…? How disclosures, persuasion knowledge training, and political fit impact cognitive processing of targeted political ads. / Noetzel, Selina (Corresponding author); Binder, Alice ; Matthes, Jörg.

In: International Journal of Advertising , 17.08.2024.

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

Enacting the Future : Environmental Activism Worldwide. / Daniel, Antje (Corresponding author); Jasser, Marie Theresa ; Olarte Sanchez, Lorena Elizabeth.

In: Journal für Entwicklungspolitik (JEP), Vol. XXXX, No. 1/2, 13.08.2024, p. 5-32.

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

Corona und Familienleben. Qualitative Längsschnittforschung in der Covid-19-Pandemie. / Dafert, Vera ; Zartler, Ulrike.

Familie in pandemischen Zeiten. Zur Deutung, Aushandlung und Bewältigung der Corona-Krise in der Familie. ed. / Franziska Krüger; Jan Frederik Bossek; Christian Gräfe; Christina Lokk; Elif Yildizli. Weinheim : Beltz Juventa, 2024. p. 38-59.

Publications: Contribution to book › Chapter › Peer Reviewed

Parents or Teachers? Parents’ Experiences in Austria with Supporting Their Children in Homeschooling During the COVID-19 Pandemic. / Dirnberger, Petra ; Dafert, Vera ; Zartler, Ulrike.

Biographical Perspectives on Lives Lived During Covid-19: Global Narratives and International Methodological Innovations. ed. / Lisa Moran; Zeta Dooly. Springer International, 2024. p. 259-280.

Publications: Contribution to book › Chapter › Peer Reviewed

LOCAL INITIATIVES IN SHRINKING CITIES: On Normative Framings and Hidden Aspirations in Scholarly Work. / Sandmann, Leona; Gunko, Maria; Shirobokova, Irina et al.

In: International Journal for Urban and Regional Research, 17.07.2024.

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

Can We Counteract Hate? Effects of Online Hate Speech and Counter Speech on the Perception of Social Groups. / Schäfer, Svenja (Corresponding author); Rebasso, Isabella; Boyer, Ming Manuel et al.

In: Communication Research (CR), Vol. 51, No. 5, 07.2024, p. 553-579.

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

Self-responsibilization, the municipality, and the state: Peripheralization shaping local initiatives in shrinking small towns. / Großmann, Katrin (Corresponding author); Adams, Ria-Maria; Bolotova, Alla et al.

In: Cities, Vol. 150, 105067, 07.2024, p. 1-10.

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

Concept Cartoon Diskussionen : Mit Kindern partizipativ über Scheidung forschen. / Parisot, Viktoria ; Zartler, Ulrike.

In: Beziehungsweise : Informationsdienst des Österreichischen Instituts für Familienforschung, 03.06.2024, p. 6-7.