On 9 January, SFU hosted an Austrian follow-up meeting on the implementation of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) in Vienna, bringing together representatives from universities, research organisations, and funding bodies across Austria.  

Participants shared updates on CoARA implementation in Austria, discussed topics such as Open Science Assessment and teaching, and explored opportunities for future collaboration.

The programme also featured the SFU project CoARAverse in Psychology, presenting practical approaches to applying CoARA principles in research practice. 

Access to Wiley Online Library and EBSCO’s Academic Search Ultimate is now live, offering thousands of peer-reviewed journals across medicine, psychology, and the social and behavioural sciences. 

Plus, the EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) provides a single, user-friendly platform to search all licensed digital content.

Bio-based innovation in society: supporting sustainable living

📅 Deadline: 17.09.2026

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-10

Funding of up to €5M (100% funding rate) is available for projects promoting bio-based innovations that support sustainable lifestyles and encourage circular economy practices across society.

Projects should develop, test, and demonstrate solutions such as bio-materials, waste valorisation, and consumer engagement strategies to help accelerate the transition to greener, more sustainable living. Multi-partner consortia from EU or associated countries are required.

OeAW Post-DocTrack:
Launch your independent career

📅 Deadline: 15.05.2026

POST-DOC-TRACK

The Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) funds early-career researchers in humanities, social & cultural sciences during their post-PhD transition (3-12 months, €50,000+/year super-gross). 

Thesis publication completion, independent grant project development, and international networking are supported for Austrian PhD graduates (max. 5 years post-defense).

Psychotherapy Science across Europe: Insights from Research Days in Linz and Paris 

Two recent Research Days at SFU Linz and SFU Paris showcased current key topics in Psychotherapy Science, bringing together scholars, practitioners, and students from SFU campuses and beyond.  

In Linz, discussions focused on the concept of Future Trauma in the context of global crises, while the Paris research day explored internal and external Mental Health Spaces.  

Together, the events offered valuable insights into emerging perspectives and debates in psychotherapy research.

Alcohol as a ‘false antidepressant’? New study reveals hidden links to mental health

Alcohol is often used to cope with low mood – but new research at the Faculty of Psychotherapy Science suggests it may actually reinforce psychological distress. 

The research team led by Univ.-Prof. Marina Zeldovich and Univ.-Prof. Human-Friedrich Unterrainer analysed data from more than 2,000 adults to explore how alcohol misuse relates to depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress.

Psychotechnics in Austria: rediscovering a forgotten chapter of psychology

The research team led by Prof. Martin Wieser at SFU Berlin is examining the emergence and development of psychotechnics in Austria between 1920 and 1950.  

The FWF-funded project explores how early applied psychologists developed aptitude tests, measurement methods and counselling approaches used in areas such as industry, the military, public administration and education.  

Using previously unexplored archival sources, the project revisits the Vienna Psychotechnical Institute, its founder Karl Hackl and the network of psychotechnicians who shaped aptitude testing and vocational guidance in the interwar period. 

Good Life and Climate Protection?! – New study explores sustainability in the everyday lives of migrant women

How do climate protection and a good life come together in everyday practice?  

A new research project at the Institute of Qualitative Social Research, funded by the City of Vienna, explores sustainability from a perspective that has so far received little attention: the daily lives of socio-economically precarious migrant women in Vienna.  

Through participatory workshops, the study examines how these women understand and practice sustainability, what challenges they face, and what support they need to act more sustainably.  

Navigating complexity in healthcare: join our survey!

From navigating health information to making decisions under uncertainty: how do people handle complexity in healthcare today?  

The HEALTH LAB explores this question in a current study and invites you to share your experience.

Conference on the use of AI in medicine, AI-Governance and liability at the SFU

On 27 January 2026, Professor Karin Bruckmüller and Assistant Professor Katharina Huber hosted the 3^rd Austrian Digital Law Day on The Use of AI in Medicine.  

The use of AI is becoming increasingly relevant in the healthcare sector. The AI Act establishes specific requirements, but in practice there are still considerable uncertainties regarding liability issues, particularly at the interface between technology, medicine and law. 

The conference initially addressed the use of AI from an interdisciplinary perspective. The legal section examined liability issues arising from the use of AI in medicine from both civil and criminal law perspectives. The interdisciplinary practice panel focused on questions of AI governance to minimise liability and sanctions.

Unfair competition law in focus: conference honours justice Manfred Vogel

At a symposium hosted by the Faculty of Law, leading scholars, judges, and practitioners discussed current developments in Austrian unfair competition law – from greenwashing and trade secrets to AI governance.

The event honoured Justice Manfred Vogel, long-standing SFU lecturer and former Presiding Judge of the Austrian Supreme Court of Justice. 

Advancing heart and cancer research research: two SFU projects funded by the City of Vienna

The Medical Scientific Fund of the Mayor of the City of Vienna is supporting two SFU projects exploring innovations in heart and cancer medicine. 

Dr. Stephan Dobner is investigating blood markers for earlier detection of cardiac amyloidosis. The project aims to find a marker that reflects protein buildup in the heart, which could allow simpler diagnosis and help monitor treatment. 

The project led by Dr. Christian Posch and Dr. Verena Schön examines how bacteria that naturally live on our skin influence the behavior of melanoma cells. The aim is to determine whether certain bacterial substances promote or inhibit tumor growth to improve skin cancer therapy.

Does drinking water affect children’s tooth development? New study sheds light

A large-scale study of more than 46,000 children in Lower Austria combines dental screening data with regional water quality information to explore potential environmental influences on molar-incisor hypomineralisation (MIH), a developmental defect in tooth enamel. 

Besides confirming that MIH is driven by multiple factors, the research highlights the strong potential of combining large health and environmental datasets for future studies. 

unSocial Media: What happens when we stop scrolling? Sehr Erfreud, Oliver Scheibenbogen

In Episode 13, host Cheyenne Scheuch sits down with clinical and health psychologist Oliver Scheibenbogen for a lively conversation about our scrolling habits and digital dependency.  

They explore the surprising findings of the Handyexperiment Österreich, reflect on attention, wellbeing, and tech use, and discuss practical ways to step back from the screen.  

A thought-provoking dialogue blending science, personal insight, and engaging debate.