Chair of Excellence in Transformative Change: Ethics, Medicine, Law, and Governance in Health Policy

Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU) invites applications for a fixed-term Professorship titled

Chair of Excellence in Transformative Change: Ethics, Medicine, Law, and Governance in Health Policy

in accordance with § 99 (1) UG, to be filled as soon as possible at the Linz Institute for Transformative Change (LIFT_C). This is a 20% position for a five-year term under private employment law.

JKU’s Linz Institute for Transformative Change (LIFT_C) serves as a driving force for societal transformation, providing impulses to foster change and jointly address today’s challenges. Acting as a collaborative nexus between the university and society, LIFT_C promotes interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, teaching, and public engagement. The appointed professor will also be associated with a closely related department within JKU.

The field Ethics, Medicine, Law, and Governance in Health Policy follows an interdisciplinary approach to address ethical, legal, and social challenges, such as the introduction of biotechnological and AI-based innovations in medicine and the role of science in political decision-making processes. This Chair investigates questions such as how ethical principles can be integrated into the development of new medical technologies and how resource allocation and decision-making in healthcare systems or health policy can be designed equitably. The interdisciplinary combination of legal and social science perspectives aims to contribute to the development of more sustainable and just healthcare systems.

Info Box

Contact

Univ. Prof.
Dr. Thomas Gegenhuber
+43 732 2468 9365
thomas.gegenhuber(at)jku.at

terms of employment

five-year position
§ 99 (1) of the 2002 Austrian Universities Act
8-hours/week

application deadline

February 28, 2025

submit application here

bewerbung(at)jku.at

Expectations and Responsibilities:

  • A distinguished research profile with high international visibility.
  • Active contribution to JKU through excellence in the field and initiation of third-party funded projects in collaboration with JKU colleagues.
  • Facilitation of institutional networking, mentoring, and supporting PhD students and early-career researchers.
  • Participation in public events organized by LIFT_C to shape a widely recognized discourse in the field, both in scientific journals and popular media.

Required Qualifications:

  • Habilitation or an internationally recognized equivalent qualification in the field.
  • Extensive experience leading a department or professorship.
  • Proven scholarly qualification demonstrated by publications and conference contributions.
  • Expertise in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, teaching, or impactful engagement.
  • Experience supervising doctoral students and supporting young researchers.
  • Experience with international cooperation, third-party funding acquisition, and science communication.
  • Strong English proficiency in both written and spoken forms; German skills are desirable but not mandatory.
  • Additional Requirement: Strong interpersonal skills and social competence.

Salary: A voluntarily agreed-upon salary that exceeds the currently stipulated full-time minimum gross salary of €89,075 annually.

Contact for Inquiries: For further information, please contact Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Gegenhuber, P: +43 732 2468 9365, E-mail: thomas.gegenhuber(at)jku.at.

When assessing the candidates’ accomplishments, performance, and future potential, the JKU will take the candidates’ individual background and personal history into account by acknowledging that academic and professional success and accomplishments can happen at different stages in life (and can include periods of reduced employment, or career interruption on account of having to provide care, childcare, etc.). In this regard, qualifications are assessed and evaluated in terms of equal opportunity, taking life-course factors, such as academic age, into account.

The Johannes Kepler University wishes to increase the proportion of academic female faculty and, for this reason, especially welcomes and encourages applications by qualified women. If applicants are equally qualified, a woman will be given preference for this position. The university welcomes applications from qualified applicants with disabilities. These applications will be given special consideration.

Application Process: Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications (including all relevant documents, such as CV, application form, etc.) by February 28, 2025, to the Rector of Johannes Kepler University Linz via email at bewerbung(at)jku.at. The application form is available on the JKU website at www.jku.at/professuren, opens an external URL in a new window.