Shalini Singh has been awarded a short-term research grant from the German Academic Exchange Service. The fellowship will support a two-month research stay at the Federal Institute for Population Research in Germany, where Shalini will further develop her doctoral research on fertility timing and reproductive decision-making. Congratulations!

A recent paper by ViDSS students Manuel Scharrer and Marvin Stecker (co-authored with Christina Gahn, Jana Bernhard-Harrer and Julia Partheymüller) provides a comprehensive analysis of the dynamics that shaped the 2024 electoral campaign, election, and government formation. Following a period of intense crises, this was the first election in which the far-right FPÖ received the most votes.

Olga Malashkina and Beate Krapfenbauer shine the spotlight on self-funded PhD candidates who are in full-time employment. Our guest Ricarda Götz-Preisner discusses the challenges she faces, her goals and motivations, and how the skills she has developed in her professional life will help her reach the end of her PhD journey.

Political scientist and ViDSS student Elena Heinz has been awarded a Marietta Blau Grant to support her upcoming research visits to Leiden University and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Her doctoral research addresses the political consequences of partisan prejudice. The grant offers financial support for study periods abroad lasting between six and twelve months. Congratulations!

A recent study by ViDSS student Alexandra Wölfle (co-authored with Desirée Schmuck) shows that when following news about the Middle Eastern conflict, young Austrians rely on legacy media and ordinary social media users to a similar extent and trust both more than social media influencers and celebrities. At the same time, ordinary users are perceived through a ‘friendly bias’.

In an interview with the ORF format Prisma, communication scientist Phelia Weiss discusses the socio-political image of masculinity based on dominance, as exemplified by political leaders such as Russian President Putin and US President Trump. Right-wing influencers adopt this image and disseminate it alongside messages that are hostile towards women and queer individuals. (In German)

Evelyn Hutter, ViDSS student in nursing science, was awarded the Theodor Körner Förderpreis for her doctoral thesis project on the biographical experiences of trainees in geriatric healthcare and nursing in relation to death and grief. The Theodor Körner Förderpreis recognises outstanding work in progress by early career researchers. Congratulations!

Together with Sarah Davies, ViDSS student Ariadne Avkıran presents the project “Organising Co-Creation”. They conducted ethnographic research over a period of two years using the example of the Action for Sustainable Future (ASF) Hub to examine the organisational dimensions of co-creation in research organisations. (In German)

Elif Gül, ViDSS student in science and technology studies, was awarded the Johanna-Dohnal-Förderpreis by the Johanna Dohnal Archive for her doctoral thesis project on the material-semiotics of obstetric violence. The award honours authors of outstanding dissertations that promote gender democracy and equality, and serve as role models for women in education. Congratulations!