Curriculum vitae

Dr. Elisabeth Oberzaucher

+43 (0)660 4796154

I am a biologist and evolutionary psychologist.

My research focuses on human behavior and cognition. In the past years I have specialised on the following core themes within interdisciplinary projects:

• Human-environment-interactions

• evolutionary gender studies

• communication and social interaction

I am tenured lecturer at the University of Vienna.

In 2017 I was elected Vice President of the International Society for Human Ethology.

2016 – 2017 I joined the faculty of the University of Ulm as professor for diversity, adaptability and equality.

Since 2015 I am the scientific director of the research institute Urban Human.

From 2012 to 2017 I served as the editor in chief of the Human Ethology Bulletin, a peer-reviewed, free, full open access journal hosted by the International Society for Human Ethology.

I have been teaching courses at the University of Vienna, plus ad hoc teaching assignments at other institutions since 2001.

I regularly give talks at academic and non-academic events. In 2015 I was awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in Mathematics. In 2016 I joined the cast of the Science Busters who were awarded the Salzburger Stier in 2018.

In Spring 2017, my book “Homo urbanus – Ein evolutionsbiologischer Blick in die Zukunft der Städte” was published by Springer, shortlisted as science book of the year.

Education

2003

2000-2003

2000

1998-1999

1994-2000

1993-1994

1993

Doctor of Science: Birds of a Feather Flock Together. Dissertation, University of Vienna

PhD studies at the University of Vienna, Austria

Master of Science: Phytophilie, die positiven Auswirkungen von Grünpflanzen auf die kognitive Leistungsfähigkeit. Master thesis, University of Vienna

University of Würzburg, Germany, Erasmus Student Exchange Program

University of Vienna, Austria. Studies in General Biology and Zoology

Ashtead, England, Cambridge Certificate for Proficiency in English

Matura (A-levels) HBLA for Economic Professions Spittal/Drau, Austria

List of Positions

since 2024

since 2022

since 2019

since 2018

2016 – 2017

since 2015

since 2012

2012 – 2017

2013 – 2019

2010 – 2013

2006 – 2009

2005 – 2006

2003 – 2005

2000 – 2012

2000 – 2003

Visiting Professor at the Department for Building and Environment, University of Krems, Austria

President of the International Society for Human Ethology

Member of the scientific kuratorium of the European Forum Alpbach

Member of the advisory board of the Seestadt Aspern, Vienna, Austria

Member of the ethics committee, Danube University of Krems, Austria

Lecturer at the Technical University of Vienna, Austria

Lecturer at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Austria

Vice president of the International Society for Human Ethology

Member of the scientific advisory board of METI Messaging ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence

Professor for diversity, adaptability, and equality at the University of Ulm

Austrian desk chief of the Annals of Improbable Research

Scientific director of Urban Human

Tenured lecturer at the Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna

Editor in chief for the Human Ethology Bulletin

Senior researcher at the IFZ Interdisciplinary Research Center for Technology, Work and Culture

Researcher at the Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna

Senior researcher at the LBI for Urban Ethology

Interim director of the LBI for Urban Ethology

Researcher at the LBI for Urban Ethology

Lecturer at the University of Vienna

PhD-project on friendships at the LBI for Urban Ethology

Research

since 2015

since 2009

since 2006

since 2005

2004 – 2012

2004 – 2006

2001 – 2007

since 2001

1999 – 2000

1999

1998

Physiology and Behavior

Evolutionary Environmental Psychology

Evolutionary Aesthetics

Nonverbal Communication and Emotions

Simulation of Human Behavior

The Determinants of Body Odor

Women’s Friendships

Gender Differences in Friendships

Evolutionary Gender Studies

Phytophilia – The Effect of Green Plants on Cognitive Efficiency

Decision-Making in Ants (Theodor-Boveri-Institute Würzburg)

Cultural Differences in Walking Speed

Grants

2024 – 2025

2024 – 2026

2021 – 2025

2021 – 2023

2021

2020 – 2021

2019 – 2020

2019

2018 – 2019

2017 – 2019

2016 – 2018

2013 – 2014

2010 – 2011

2009 – 2013

2007 – 2009

2007

2005 – 2006

Begleitung Bahnhof Weststeiermark funded by Land Steiermark

InfoTrainX funded by FFG MDZ

EuroNight 2.0 funded by Deutsches Schienenforschungszentrum

WWTF ESR Grant Temporary urban intervention with art - and green - in public space – aesthetic qualities, resilience, or simply positive emotions? (duration 3.5 years, volume 650.000 €, Co-PI)

FFG FemTech Forschungsprojekt Station4All

(duration 2 years, volume 42.600 €, Co-PI)

FFG Fast Track Digital. TrainOptimizer 2.0

(duration , volume 40.800 €, Co-PI)

FFG FemTech Forschungspraktikum adherence

(duration 6 months, volume 6.800 €, PI)

FFG FemTech Forschungspraktikum HumanMobility

(duration 6 months, volume 6.800 €, PI)

FFG FemTech Forschungspraktikum NachhaltigApp

(duration 6 months, volume 6.800 €, PI)

FFG FemTech Forschungspraktikum HOLE

(duration 6 months, volume 6.800 €, PI)

FFG FemTech Forschungspraktikum MOVE
(duration 6 months, volume 6.800 €, PI)

FFG FemTech Forschungspraktikum HOVE
(duration 6 months, volume 6.800 €, PI)

SicherMobil funded by FFG
(duration 12 months, volume 199.000 €, group leader)

Qualifizierungsnetzwerk Humanwissenschaften und Bautechnik funded by FFG
(duration 24 months, volume 628,568 € group leader)

Gender Equality in Multisensual Rail Vehicles funded by FFG
(duration 36 months, volume 293,000 € group leader)

MUSE Multisensual Rail Vehicles funded by Wiener Linien
(duration 10 months, volume 50,000 € PI)

The evolutionary psychology of crowd behavior funded by yellowfish AG
(duration 3 months, volume 5000 €, PI)

VANAHEIM (EC-grant FP7 large scale integrating No 248907)
(duration 3.5 years, volume 3,717,989 € senior researcher)

WikiVienna funded by Wiener Wissenschafts- und Technologiefonds (WWTF)
No. CI06 025 (duration 2 years, volume 390,000 €, group leader)

Environmental Aesthetics funded by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Inc.
(duration 2 months, volume 20,000 €, PI)

Unique signature detection project (ARO grant DAAD19-03-1-0215)
(duration 1 year, 131,189 €, researcher)

Emotionality in car fronts funded by EFS consulting
(duration 1 year, volume 33,200 €, PI)

Teaching

at the University of Vienna

since 2016

2013 – 2017

since 2010

2010 – 2013

since 2009

since 2008

since 2007

2005 – 2013

2005

2005 – 2013

2005 –2013

since 2004

since 2003

2003 - 2010

2001 – 2003

at other institutions

since 2019

since 2018

2018

2016 – 2017

2017

2018

2013

2011

2010

2009

2008

2004-09

2007-09

2005

2003

Practical Course: Behavioural Biology

Practical Course: Behavioural Physiology

Practical Course: Neurobiology - Visual Systems

Lecture: Methods in Behavior Research

Lecture: Introduction to Behavior Research

Seminar: Advanced students in human ethology

Seminar: Evolution of the sexes

Practical Course: The behavior of animals

Lecture: Interdisciplinary lecture cognitive science

Practical Course: Behavior analysis II

Seminar: Human Ethological Seminar

Lecture: Introduction to Human Ethology

Practical Course: Human Ethology

Project Practical Course: Human Ethology

Seminar: Gender Studies

Lecture: Gender Studies

Lecture: Urban Ethology

Seminar: Presentation Techniques

Teaching Assistant

Lecture “Building for People” Technical University of Vienna (Joint lecture, Lead Azra Korjenic)

Lecture “Ethics in Technology” Technical University of Vienna (Joint lecture, Lead Hermann Knoflacher)

Lecture and Discussion “Homo urbanus – evolutionary considerations for the city of the future” University for Applied Arts, Vienna

Lecture and Discussion “Brain and Behaviour” University for Applied Arts, Vienna

Lecture “Global Challenges – Digitisation and Urbanisation” University for Applied Arts, Vienna

Lecture “Public Transport” Technical University of Vienna (Joint lecture, Lead Norbert Ostermann)

Seminar: Sex and Gender in Human Technology Interaction, University of Ulm

Lecture: Biological Sex – Potential and Limitations in Cognitive Gender Studies, University of Ulm

Seminar: Barrier free is also gender inclusive

IK 2018 Günne, Lake Möhne, Germany

SweCog Seminar at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Spatial Anthropology at the Danube University Krems

SweCog Summer School at Mullsjö, Sweden (Gender differences in behavior, Olfactory communication, Biophilia)

IK 2010 Günne, Lake Möhne, Germany: “Creating believable game characters”

Summer School of the International Society for Human Ethology in Maine: “Observational Methods in Research on Emotional Expressions“

Neurobiology Summer School at the Faculty of Life Sciences in Vienna, Workshop “Motions and Emotions”

Visiontrain Thematic school on Computational and Neuro-physiological Models for Visual Perception (Les Houches). “Video Observation and Analysis Tools: The Do's and the Dont's“

Summer school of GK Emotions of the University of Würzburg in Plankstetten: Biopsychology of Emotions. “Pheromones and odors and emotions”

Die Evolution der Kommunikation. Interne Fortbildung von PPC Training.

Basic course in ethology, W@lz, Wiener Lernzentrum

Summer school in human behavior research at the Department of Anthropology, LBI for Urban Ethology, Vienna

Interdisziplinäres Kolleg (Günne), Real, Mental and Virtual Space. “Urban Ethology”

Summer academy for highly talented pupils, Dept. of Anthropology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna

Awards

2018

2015

2013

Österreichischer Kabarettpreis, Publikumspreis (with the Science Busters)

Salzburger Stier (with the Science Busters)

Ig Nobel Prize for Mathematics

Dolores Award of the Gesellschaft für Ästhetische Chirurgie Deutschlands

Memberships

International Society for Human Ethology (ISHE) www.ishe.org
European Human Behavior and Evolution Association (EHBEA) www.ehbea.com
Human Behavior and Evolution Society (HBES) www.hbes.com
European Network for the Advancement of Artificial Cognitive Systems, Interaction and Robotics (EUCogII) www.eucognition.org
WIMEN Women in Mobility Research in Vienna www.wimen.org
Innovation Lab “GrünStattGrau” www.gruenstattgrau.at

Reviewer

Frontiers in Science
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships
Biological Psychiatry
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
The Journal of Social, Evolutionary, and Cultural Psychology
European Commission
Research Council of Canada
European Journal of Personality
Personality and Individual Differences

Other Activities

Member of the Jury for the INA Award
Member of the UniNetz SDG 11
MC of the Science Slam at the University of Ulm 2017
Article Editor for Sage Open
Host for the 2017 Jahrestagung der MVE Liste, Ulm, Germany
Member of the Science Cabaret “Science Busters” www.sciencebusters.at since 2016
Ambassador for the Vienna Science Ball 2016
Austrian Desk Chief for the Annals of Improbable Research AIR since 2016
Wiener Forschungsfest 2013 in collaboration with Wiener Linien
Host for the 2012 Conference of the International Society for Human Ethology in Vienna, Austria
Outreach Officer of the European Human Behavior and Evolution Association (EHBEA) 2010-2012
Trustee of the International Society for Human Ethology (ISHE) 2010-2012
Associate Editor of the Human Ethology Bulletin (during its conversion into a peer-reviewed online journal) 2010-2012
Wiener Forschungsfest (2010) Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute for Urban Ethology
Organization of the Symposium “Ein Fest für die Humanethologie” (2010)
Member of the communications Committee for the Conference of the International Society for Human Ethology in Madison (2010)
Organization of the Symposium “Homo oeconomicus” at the University of Vienna (2009)
Member of the Program Committee for the Summer School of the International Society for Human Ethology in Maine (2009)
Organization of the Symposium in honor of Prof. Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt’s 80th birthday, in collaboration with John Dittami, Karl Grammer, Astrid Jütte, Bernd Lötsch and Christian Ehalt (2008)
Summer School in Human Behavior Research 2008 “Behavior Simulation”, in collaboration with Karl Grammer (2008)
Organization of the Neurobiology Summer School “Sensory Systems: From Receptor Cells to Cognition”, in collaboration with Axel Schmidt (2008)
Organization of the lecture series “The Evolution of Social Cognition” at the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, in collaboration with Ludwig Huber & Karl Grammer (2007)
Summer School in Human Behavior Research 2007 “Nonverbal Communication”, in collaboration with Karl Grammer (2007)
Annual presentations at the Brainweek organized by the University of Vienna, communicating recent findings to pupils (since 2005)