I am recruiting for PhD students, research assistants, and potentially a postdoc at the University of Vienna, starting Fall 2026 or Spring 2027. If you are interested in working together, please fill out this interest form. I review submissions regularly. I may not be able to respond to everyone individually, but I read each one carefully.
PhD students: Fully funded positions, typically for 4 years at around 30 hours per week. A master’s degree is required, as is standard in Austria and many other European systems.
Research assistants: Funded positions for undergraduate and master’s students based in Austria. Roles depend on ongoing projects and availability.
Postdoc: I am open to and currently exploring the possibility of funding postdoc positions. If you are interested, please indicate this in the form.
Working with Sijia has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my academic career. She goes far beyond what any project requires. She helped me find internship opportunities, listened when I needed it, and encouraged me at every step. She also brings the same care to her research, holding the team and the work to a high standard. I could not recommend her more as a mentor and advisor ❤️.
Working with Sijia has been an incredibly rewarding experience. As a mentor, she has a sharp eye for research and consistently provides clear, thoughtful guidance, so I’ve never felt lost. What I appreciate most is how she makes every project a valuable learning opportunity, taking the time to explain the reasoning behind our decisions rather than just the outcomes. She also genuinely cares about her students beyond research, and over time she’s become not just a great mentor but a true friend. Having collaborated with her on three projects already, I look forward to many more to come!
Where do I even start? This summer was an incredible experience for me. I learned so much, both in terms of coding, but more importantly in terms of kindness.
Believe it or not, I have never ever met someone like you. The empathy and the patience you showed me allowed me to grow. In an environment like Berkeley, one is always expected to be perfect, ahead of timing, and efficient. I definitely try to strive toward those things, but by no means am I the best of the best. In spite of my slowness and lack of efficiency, you encouraged me and rebuilt my shattered confidence. You allowed me to tap into my strengths and helped me identify what I’m good at.
Even though you are busy, you continued to support me, especially in tasks such as debugging. I don’t think I will ever really understand how a person can be so patient. I’m going to try and be like you one day. I especially admire how you tap into the strengths that people have and help them realize it.
Although I really want you to look out for yourself and your own needs, I am privileged to call you my mentor, someone I look up to, but most of all, my friend.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to get to know you and work on this amazing project together. I hope that we grow more together and that you achieve all of your dreams and aspirations.
Thank you for supporting me and always being there for me.
Like I mentioned, I hope I can be like you one day. I can guarantee you that you will receive everything that you ever wanted and more.
One day we’ll talk about all of our struggles and achievements and laugh together.
Thank you for everything, Sijia. I appreciate you.
Sijia is a really nice person, and grants you all the flexibility you need as a mentor. Depending on what you need, she’s happy to provide instruction and guidance, or to let you explore your own path. I’m happy that in my time with Sijia, I’ve not only gained a mentor but also a good friend.
The University of Vienna is consistently ranked among the top 100 to 150 universities globally, with strong traditions in the humanities and social sciences. Its Faculty of Computer Science, established in 2004, is comparatively newer but growing quickly. Vienna also has a strong research ecosystem supported by national funding and the City of Vienna, with nearby institutions such as TU Wien and the Institute of Science and Technology Austria, among others. It is also a hub for initiatives such as the Digital Humanism Initiative, which connects research with policy and societal impact, making it a strong environment for HCI and responsible AI research.
PhD positions are typically 4 year employment contracts with a defined workload of around 30 hours per week. Funding is secured for the full duration. As school employees, PhD students receive a salary, health insurance, pension contributions, and paid vacations. You can read more about doctoral study at the Doctoral School of the University of Vienna.
Vienna is consistently ranked among the most livable cities in the world. It offers a highly walkable city with access to green spaces, a rich cultural life from café culture to museums and music, and a international environment where both German and English are widely used. The cost of living is relatively manageable compared to many major cities, supported in part by Vienna’s long-standing regulated housing system, which helps keep rents stable and more affordable.
