The Carinthia University of Applied Sciences offers a wide range of study programs in the fields of technology, business, health and social sciences. A common feature of all areas is the practical and application-oriented focus of teaching and research as well as the close cooperation between public institutions, business and science. General information on our courses, research activities and the organization of the university can be found on our homepage www.fh-kaernten.at.
The UNESCO Chair for Management of Conservation Areas (MCA), established in 2020, aims to contribute to the global network of UNESCO Chairs by advancing the concept of "Nature Conservation in the 21st Century." As part of this mission, we are seeking an Environmental Sociologist to expand and develop the interdisciplinary work within our team.
The focus of this role is to explore and address the societal implications of nature conservation and protected areas through social science, human geography, and transdisciplinary approaches. The successful candidate will work on the
existing project portfolio, ensuring its further development and implementation, while collaborating with a wide range of conservation areas, particularly UNESCO-designated sites, both nationally and internationally. Find more information about the UNESCO Chair: www.cuas.at/unesco-chair.
This position offers the opportunity to strengthen the Chair’s interdisciplinary research and contribute to innovative solutions for conservation management.
Junior Researcher / Project Support –
Visitor Monitoring and Management (m/f/d)
Your Tasks
We are seeking a Junior Researcher to provide technical support for an Interreg project focused on monitoring visitor behaviour in outdoor environments, particularly in protected areas. The project involves integrating data from various
sources, such as mobile phone data, apps, counters, and field observations, to analyse and understand the temporal and spatial distribution patterns and activity behaviours of visitors. The successful candidate will work closely with the project team to consolidate results and contribute to the development of key project deliverables.
- Support the integration and analysis of data from multiple sources (e.g., mobile phone data, apps, counters, and field observations) to identify visitor distribution and activity patterns.
- Assist the project team in reviewing and systematically consolidating project results.
- Contribute to the preparation of a scientific publication summarizing the project findings.
- Support the development of an After-Project Action Plan to ensure the sustainability and practical application of the project outcomes.
Your Profile
We are looking for a motivated individual with a strong academic background and a diverse skill set to support our project team. The ideal candidate is quick to adapt to new topics, technically proficient, and enjoys working collaboratively in a dynamic environment. Excellent language skills and the ability to structure and present information effectively are essential for this role.
- You are a student or graduate of a relevant field of study (e.g., landscape planning, geography, technical sciences, tourism, etc.).
- You have experience in the field of visitor monitoring and management
- You have the ability to quickly familiarize yourself with new topics.
- You possess strong technical and IT skills (Q-GIS, Arc GIS, automatic visitor counters)
- You are experienced in statistical analysis (SPSS and/or R)
- You are skilled in structuring texts and content, enjoy text editing, and are capable of creating graphical representations of information.
- You enjoy working in a team environment.
- You have excellent English and German language skills; knowledge of Italian is an advantage
Our Offer
Carinthia University of Applied Sciences appreciates the motivation and great commitment of its employees and offers
attractive and family-friendly conditions. You will join a dynamic and interdisciplinary team dedicated to advancing biodiversity research and sustainable conservation practices.
- Scope of employment: 100%
- Contract duration: 6 months, ideally starting in October 2025.
- Place of employment: Campus Villach, Europastrasse 4, 9524 Villach.
- Minimum salary: Euro 2.990.- gross per month (for full-time employment), negotiable based on qualifications and experience
We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in academia.
Application deadline: 24th August, 2025
Application
Please upload your complete application documents via our homepage at http://www.fh-kaernten.at/jobs
o Letter of motivation o Curriculum vitae incl. photo
o Proof of education and practical experience
o List of publications and any PDF of relevant publications
• Expected timeline for the application process:
o Application deadline: August 24th, 2025
o Online interviews: September 4th, 2025
o Proposed start date: October 1st, 2025 (negotiable)
- Please note: We regret that we cannot reimburse any travel costs or expenses incurred in connection with participation in the selection procedure
We look forward to receiving your detailed application.
