General Information
Supported by the RCC, member consortia offer doctoral candidates a research-intensive environment with additional training elements that go beyond the standard curriculum. Targeted international recruitment in combination with financial support, high-quality specialist training, mobility support and additional qualification opportunities in specialist and interdisciplinary key qualifications form the cornerstones of the training.
Member consortia are internationally oriented groups of doctoral candidates and supervisors (faculty) researching an overarching topic. A consortium consists of 10 doctoral candidates (recommended number), at least 50% of whom are financed by third-party funds.
Consortia ensure regular academic exchange between faculty members and doctoral candidates. They promote international contacts of their doctoral researchers as well as their participation in the activities of the scientific community. In addition, doctoral candidates are given opportunities to acquire transferable skills, particularly through the Research Careers Campus.
How to become a member consortium
Candidate Status
Groups of doctoral candidates and faculty members who do not yet meet the requirements for admission to the Research Careers Campus as a consortium can apply for candidate status.
RCC candidate consortia can receive up to € 5,000 as seed funding for the preparation of third-party funding applications. The candidate status is awareded exclusively by invitation for application. However, interested doctoral groups can contact the Research Careers Campus (doctoral-academy(at)uni-graz.at) for a preliminary conversation. In the case of an invitation the doctoral group has to the form for the application for candidate status.
Before contacting the RCC, please read the directives for the candidate status.
An overview of all RCC Consortia can be found below
Accounting, Reporting and Taxation
The DART consortium is a joint doctoral program of two major Austrian universities (in Graz and Vienna). It concentrates on corporate accounting, reporting and taxation with a focus on business-oriented research using quantitative research methods. The teaching and research language of the program, which covers all areas of corporate accounting research, is English.
| Contact | Speakers |
DART - Doctoral Program in Accounting, Reporting, and Taxation | Spokesperson o. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Alfred Wagenhofer Deputy Chairman |
Climate Change - Uncertainties, Thresholds and Strategies
Anthropogenic climate change has become one of the most important challenges of the 21st century. Strategies for dealing with climate change and its possible consequences are characterized by uncertainties. The DK research program aims to achieve a better understanding of these uncertainties and to develop criteria for threshold values in the sense of critical points at which a small change in the system is sufficient to bring about a qualitative change in the system or other systems.
| Contact | Speakers |
Glacisstraße 27/I | Spokesperson Deputy Spokesperson |
Discrete Mathematics
The programme's interpretation of Discrete Mathematics is rather wide, even if comparing the research areas of the first funding period with the second one reveals that it now has a stronger focus on core themes of discrete mathematics, due to changes in the faculty.
The programme covers many topics from pure and also applied mathematics: classical elds such as combinatorics, number theory, graph theory, probability theory and group theory, as well as more themes which look towards computer science, like computational geometry and discrete optimization.
| Contact | Speakers |
Graz University of Technology | Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.rer.nat. Wolfgang Woess deputy |
Theoretical Particle Physics
Hadrons are strongly interacting elementary particles. The theory of quarks and gluons, quantum chromodynamics (QCD), describes hadrons and their properties, at least in principle. However, perturbation theory is not applicable for small momentum transfers. The planned investigations therefore include Monte Carlo simulations in lattice QCD, non-perturbative Green's function methods and effective field theory (chiral perturbation theory). Effective models based on the symmetries and low-energy degrees of freedom of QCD are used to study hadronic interactions. A combination of these methods will be used to develop new theoretical procedures. In collaboration with international partners, possible consequences for nuclear physics and astrophysics will be studied. The implementation of relevant experiments and the analysis of experimental data at the partner universities will be supported.
| Contact | Speakers |
Institute of Physics - Department of Theoretical Physics | Spokesperson Univ.-Prof. Dr.rer.nat. Axel Maas Deputy spokesperson |
Variational Linguistics and Sociolinguistics - German on the Move
The common thematic framework of the consortium is the spectrum of variation and varieties of the German language, which is subjected to extensive analyses from the perspectives of variational linguistics, language contact and multilingualism research and sociolinguistics.
| Contact | Speakers |
Institute secretariat |
Speaker Univ.-Prof. Dr.phil. Arne Ziegler Deputy Spokesperson
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Optimization and Numerical Analysis for Partial Differential Equations with Nonsmooth Structures
The focus of the international research training group DK-W1244 is the development of new analytical and numerical methods for the optimization, control and estimation of problems described by partial differential equations (PDEs) with nonsmooth structures.
| Contact | Speakers |
Dipl.-Biol. Dr.rer.nat. Heinrichstraße 36 | Spokesperson Deputy Spokesman |
Resonant World Relations in Socio-religious Practices in Antiquity and Modernity
The International Graduate School compares relationships of the individual to the social, material and transcendent world, which are established and reflected in socio-religious practices. The central question is how such self-world relations are experienced as resonant, i.e. as dialogic-responsive. The projects from ancient studies, biblical studies and sociology combine different methodological approaches and historical periods in order to open up sociologically oriented and historically contextualized perspectives on world relations.
| Contact | Speakers |
Dr. Anna-Katharina RiegerInstitute for Antiquity | Spokesperson Deputy |
Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Change
The consortium investigates the adaptation of ecosystems and organisms (fungi, plants, animals) to environmental changes ranging from seasonal fluctuations to climate change. Using modern scientific methods, both short-term reactions and long-term changes are investigated and new bio-monitoring methods are developed for use in anthropogenic niches, among other things.
| Contact | Speakers |
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Kristina SefcInstitute of Biology | Spokesperson Deputy Spokesperson |
Synergies in Business Law
The research consortium is based on the doctoral group "Synergies in Business Law". Practically relevant synergy topics from the fields of insolvency, corporate and financial law, which have not yet been adequately researched, are dealt with. The interdisciplinarity is also implemented in the supervision.
| Contact | Speakers |
Dott.ssa MSc. Maddalena Vivona detta Bivona | Spokesperson |
NanoGraz: Functional Nanostructures in Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences
Essential processes in physics, chemistry and the life sciences take place on a scale of just a few nanometers. Our consortium is concerned with both the experimental characterization at these scales and the theoretical description of the relevant phenomena.
| Contact | Speakers |
Michaela KoglerInstitute of Chemistry | Spokesperson |
Molecular Metabolism (MOBILES)
The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) doc.fund "Molecular Metabolism" (MOBILES) is an international doctoral program for outstanding doctoral researchers of molecular biosciences. The aim of the consortium is to provide committed doctoral researchers with excellent training in the fields of molecular biology, infection biology and biochemistry. The PhD projects deal with questions concerning nutrition- and age-related metabolic changes, the regulation of lipid metabolism and bacterial modulation of metabolism using various model organisms [bacteria, yeasts, cell cultures, flies and mice (BYCFM)].
| Contact | Speakers |
Dipl.-Biol. Dr.rer.nat. Kristina Schild Institute of Molecular Biosciences Phone: +43 316 380 - 5496 E-Mail: kristina.schild(at)uni-graz.at Web: https://docfunds-molecular-metabolism.uni-graz.at/de/ Appointments by arrangement | Spokesperson Assoc. Prof. Mag. Dr.rer.nat. Monika Oberer deputy |
Sustainable Biocatalysis
PhD students in the Doctoral Academy consortium “Sustainable Biocatalysis” engage in interdisciplinary research to develop innovative biocatalytic methods that utilize enzymes for environmentally friendly chemical transformations. The consortium brings together research groups specializing in biocatalytic synthesis, structural biology, and photobiocatalysis to address the challenges of designing more sustainable processes. We study enzyme structures and mechanisms to enhance the efficiency, stability, and selectivity of biocatalysts. Our work in photobiocatalysis further pushes the boundaries of the field by harnessing light-driven reactions to activate enzymes, creating novel, energy-efficient pathways for sustainable biocatalytic processes.
| Contact | Speakers |
Mag. Dr.rer.nat. Christoph Winkler Institute of Chemistry T+43 316 380 - 5462 E-Mail:christoph.winkler(at)uni-graz.at Web: The Elk Crew—Biocatalysis at the University of Graz (uni-graz.at) | Speaker Mag. Dr.rer.nat. Christoph Winkler Vice-Speaker |
ESOE - Europeanization Processes in Southeastern Europe
The consortium Europeanization Processes in Southeastern Europe - ESOE - is based on the doctoral programme Southeastern Europe which was established in 2013. The main objective of the programme is to significantly enrich the state of research in the field of Southeastern European Studies with innovative research findings and to support doctoral researchers at the University of Graz with a research focus on Southeastern Europe. The specific analytical goal of the consortium is to promote innovation, particularly in the areas of interdisciplinary, ideology-critical and historical-critical Europeanization research. The faculty of the consortium consists of twelve members from ten different disciplines. In addition to the excellence and interdisciplinarity of the research and training programme, internationalization is one of the central instruments of the consortium. The consortium implements international research and teaching standards, brings together international doctoral researchers and international faculty members, facilitates study and research trips to other universities as well as guest lectures by internationally renowned experts and guest researchers. The program is aimed at doctoral researchers of the University of Graz with a focus on history, political science, anthropology, literature, gender studies, economics, law, sociology, theology and human geography. The consortium's program is based on regular courses, including semester retreats, as well as regular joint courses with various groups of doctoral researchers from the rest of Europe.
| Contact | Speakers |
Dr.phil. Hrvoje PaicZentrum für Südosteuropastudien Academic Coordinator | Speaker Univ.-Prof. Dr.phil. David Florian Bieber Co-Speaker |
Complexity of Life
The consortium investigates complex living interaction networks. By understanding the complexity and interactions within and between components of living systems, the consortium is preparing for future changes in the biosphere and sociosphere. The applied methodology includes optimization, decision theory, game theory, network theory, systems analysis, simulation and other computer-aided methods.
| Contact | Speakers |
Mag. Dr.rer.nat. Alexander Thomas GoritschnigForschungsmanagement und -service Koordination | Speaker Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. PhD Christoph Kuzmics Vice-Speaker Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Gundolf Haase |
Biomolecular Structures and Interactions
BioMolStruct, "Biomolecular Structures and Interactions", is an international PhD training programme that brings together a group of researchers from three universities in Graz - University of Graz, Medical University of Graz and Graz University of Technology. The PhD programme offers specialised training in integrative structural biology with an extensive experimental and theoretical background in the dynamics of biomolecules using molecular biology, biophysics and structural biology. It offers challenging research projects where the integration of complementary structural biology techniques enables functional studies on challenging biological questions involving, for example, antibodies, lipid vesicles, protein-lipid interactions, transporters, secretion systems, signaling proteins and large enzyme complexes.
| Contact | Speakers |
Ass.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Tea Pavkov-KellerInstitut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften | Speaker Ass.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Tea Pavkov-Keller Vice-Speaker |
HFDT -Human Factor in Digital Transformation
The consortium "Human Factor in Digital Transformation" (HFDT) focuses on two core topics:
- the preservation of humanities principles in an increasingly technologised environment ("SSH-->ICT") and
- the use of IT in the sciences and humanities ("ICT--> SSH").
In order to consolidate the topic in academic and social discourse, an HFDT junior research group at the highest level with interdisciplinary expertise in the international community is to be developed. Great importance is attached to the staffing, which includes scholars from the humanities and human sciences (philosophy, psychology, educational sciences), social and economic sciences (sociology, economics, business administration), data sciences (BANDAS, SIS, ZIM) as well as normative subjects (theology, law, ethics).
The core is the involvement of doctoral candidates in an intensive research-related discussion and collaboration context, e.g. the joint organisation of scientific events and project proposals, joint publications or seasonal schools. Methodology labs are used to experiment with the extent to which discipline-specific methodologies can be usefully applied in other scientific disciplines. The researchers are also encouraged to jointly discuss the major social issues of digital transformation - each from the perspective of their own in-depth specialist expertise - at an international level and to develop proposals for solutions.
The consortium is linked to the interdisciplinary network "Human Factor in Digital Transformation".
| Contact | Speakers |
Simone-Carmen Kotar | Speaker Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr.iur. Elisabeth Staudegger Vice-Speaker Univ.-Prof. Dr. habil. Jörn Kleinert
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Mountain Knowledge: Climate - Water - Risk
Mountains are a complex form of landscape on Earth, which only cover a small proportion of the Earth's surface but have a major influence on atmospheric processes (and therefore the climate), the water cycle, the biosphere, many relevant natural hazards and therefore on humans. Due to atmospheric circulation and their importance for the water balance, the significance of mountains goes far beyond their actual size. It is precisely because of the complexity of the interconnected processes that there is a need for greater cooperation between geology, geomorphology, hydro(geo)logy, biology and climatology. At the same time, our knowledge is less than for other regions of the world. The poorer understanding of processes in mountain regions also results in a lower performance of models/model simulations and thus poorer predictions. The consortium "Mountain Knowledge: Climate - Water - Risk (Moledge)" aims to improve the understanding of processes and systems and their changes due to climate change as well as risks for humans in mountain regions with a threefold focus:
(a) processes of mountain formation and natural hazards
(b) climate change in mountain regions and its consequences in different regions of the world
(c) changes in the cryosphere in mountains, water cycle and resulting risks.
| Speakers | |
Speaker Univ.-Prof. Dr.rer.nat. Wolfgang Schöner Co-Speaker Assoz. Prof. Priv.-Doz. Mag. Dr.rer.nat. Gerfried Winkler
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Molecular Enzymology
The Molecular Enzymology consortium stands for top-class, competitive and interdisciplinary scientific training of internationally recruited outstanding doctoral researchers in key topics of molecular biosciences at the University of Graz and Graz University of Technology.
| Contact | Speakers |
Dipl.-Biol. Dr.rer.nat. Kristina SchildInstitute of Molecular Biosciences Humboldtstraße 50, I by arrangement | Spokesperson Associate Professor Dr. Ellen Zechner Deputy speaker |
Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease (MCD)
The consortium and FWF DK "Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases" (DK-MCD) is a joint training program of the Medical University of Graz and the University of Graz. The DK-MCD offers a multidisciplinary training program and dissertation projects in the fields of "New concepts and technologies for the investigation of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases", "Lipid-associated diseases", "Cancer and lipid metabolism" and "Cardiovascular diseases". The training program ranges from molecular biology, biochemistry and cell biology to metabolomics, proteomics, physiology, pharmacology, pathology and clinical medicine.
With their commitment to teaching and a scientific background in basic and clinical research, the consortium of thirteen experienced as well as young, already well-established researchers lays the foundation for the interdisciplinary training of the doctoral researchers, but is also diverse enough to enable them to develop their dissertation projects beyond their own research focus.
The DK-MCD Doctoral College is a challenging doctoral training program in the field of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, ranging from basic to clinical research. The aim is to provide a profound doctoral education in biomedicine that enables graduates to pursue a career as independent researchers in biomedicine and life sciences.
| Contact | Speakers |
Dr.rer.nat. Bakk.rer.nat. MSc. Sabrina ZimmermannInstitute of Molecular Biosciences Phone: +43 316 380 - 1903 E-Mail: dk-mcd(at)medunigraz.at | Spokesperson Univ.-Prof. Dr.rer.nat. Frank Madeo
Deputy speaker |
