University of Vienna – Department of Science and Technology Studies
Listed on Orbital Diplomat 2 Jul 2026
The University of Vienna's Research Platform SPACETRACE — Pollution of the Atmosphere by a Rapidly Growing Space Industry — is an interdisciplinary initiative bringing together researchers from Science and Technology Studies (STS), aerosol physics, and atmospheric sciences to investigate the environmental consequences of the commercial space boom. As launch rates and satellite mega-constellations expand rapidly, their effects on the stratospheric ozone layer, the Earth's radiation balance, and ice cloud formation remain largely unquantified and poorly governed. This PhD position is hosted in the Department of Science and Technology Studies under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nina Klimburg-Witjes, and is one of four interdisciplinary doctoral posts within SPACETRACE. The social science component of the platform addresses questions of direct relevance to the space governance community: the socio-political and economic logics underpinning commercial space expansion despite known environmental risks; how national and international governance structures frame space debris and atmospheric emissions as security threats, sustainability concerns, or trade-offs for innovation; what legal and regulatory mechanisms are needed to address planetary-scale orbital externalities; and how uneven environmental and security risks from space debris re-entry are distributed across regions and populations. For the Orbital Diplomat community, this position sits at a critical intersection: space sustainability governance is emerging as one of the most consequential policy challenges in the sector, and social science perspectives on power, regulation, and justice are essential to any credible governance framework. The post runs for four years from October 2026. No background in physics is required.
Master's degree or equivalent in the Social Sciences, or in another field with demonstrated prior experience in Science and Technology Studies Knowledge of the theories and methods of Science and Technology Studies Demonstrated ability to plan, conduct, and write up independent research Motivation to work in an interdisciplinary team with colleagues from STS and physics Excellent proficiency in English; German proficiency or readiness to acquire it is an advantage 3-5 page outline of proposed PhD project in STS relating to space governance, innovation, and politics with focus on space debris and sustainability (required at application) Names and contact details of two referees