Florian Aigner

Florian Aigner is a physicist and science communicator. He completed his PhD in theoretical quantum physics at TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology) and now works as an author, journalist, and public speaker. His work in science communication has received multiple awards. His latest book, which expands on his keynote at the Open Science Festival, is a highly accessible introduction to quantum theory and was named "Wissenschaftsbuch des Jahres 2023" by "Bild der Wissenschaft".

Mark Hahnel

Mark Hahnel is the VP Open Research at Digital Science. He is the founder of Figshare, which he created while completing his PhD in stem cell biology at Imperial College London. Figshare currently provides research data infrastructure for institutions, publishers and funders globally. He is passionate about open science and the potential it has to revolutionize the research community. Mark sits on the board of DataCite and the advisory board for Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). He was on the judging panel for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Wellcome Trust Open Science prize and acted as an advisor for the Springer Nature master classes.

Paloma Marín-Arraiza

Paloma Marín-Arraiza works at ORCID as the Associate Director of Engagement. She holds a degree in Physics and a master's in Scientific Information and Communication, both from the University of Granada (Spain). She obtained her PhD in Information Science at São Paulo State University (Brazil), with a thesis focused on data modelling for enhanced publications. Before joining ORCID, she worked in research libraries in Germany and Austria, dealing with non-textual research outputs and persistent identifiers, respectively.

She is a guest lecturer on courses in Research Data Management and Data Stewardship in Spain and Austria, and a member of the editorial board and reviewer committee of four diamond open-access journals in the field of information science.

Ben McLeish

Ben McLeish is a seasoned professional at Digital Science, a technology company focused on research and innovation. In his current role as EMEA Sales Manager, he is responsible for sales and advocacy across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa for Dimensions and Altmetric services. Ben has a specific focus on monitoring research impact and research security monitoring, in which high-risk collaborations can be flagged for review by universities as they build international collaboration networks. Ben has been with Digital Science for over a decade, joining the company in September 2014. He is known for his expertise in academic metrics, research analytics, and digital tools for the academic sector.

Ben frequently participates in industry events and discussions, sharing insights on topics such as research impact assessment and open science. As part of the Digital Science team, he works with academic institutions to implement research intelligence solutions.

Barbara Schober

Barbara Schober studied Psychology at the University of Bamberg and completed her doctorate at LMU Munich. Since 2011, she has been a university professor for "Psychological Education and Transfer Research" at the University of Vienna. Her research focuses on motivational development, self-regulation, gender-specific educational trajectories, lifelong learning and the development, evaluation and implementation of evidence-based interventions. She is Vice President of the Austrian Psychological Society and has been involved in higher education and science policy for some time and she therefore is member of various political advisory bodies and international advisory boards. Barbara Schober has been Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Vienna since 2016.

Toma Susi

Toma Susi, born in Helsinki in 1983, is a Finnish physicist and associate professor at the University of Vienna. His research is focused on atomic-scale materials science and electron microscopy. After receiving his Ph.D. from Aalto University in 2011, he moved to Austria two years later. In 2017, he received an ERC Starting Grant to develop a new method for manipulating materials at the atomic level, and in 2021 received tenure.

Susi is a strong advocate of Open Science. He publishes almost all of his research as Open Access, often including open datasets and analysis code. He has been actively involved in several Open Science initiatives, including serving on the Scientific Advisory Board of Open Research Europe, chairing an Open Science Task Force of the Initiative for Science in Europe, and being a member of the first Steering Committee of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) until late 2024.

https://www.mostlyphysics.net/policy

Clemens Apprich

Clemens Apprich, Vorsitzender von Open Science Austria (OSA), ist Leiter der Abteilung Medientheorie sowie des Peter Weibel Forschungsinstituts für Digitale Kulturen an der Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien, wo er seit 2021 die Professur für Medientheorie und Mediengeschichte innehat. Seit Herbst 2023 ist er Vizerektor für Forschung und Digitalität.

Manuela Baccarini

Manuela Baccarini is Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs and Deputy of the Rector at the University of Vienna, serving since October 2022. A Professor of Cell Signalling at the Max Perutz Labs, she was born in Italy and earned her doctorate from Sapienza University of Rome. Her research career includes positions at leading institutes in Germany and the US before joining the University of Vienna. Manuela Baccarini previously led the Vienna BioCenter PhD program and is a member of EMBO and the Austrian Academy of Sciences, recognized for her contributions to molecular biology and international scientific collaboration.

Monika Bargmann

Monika is the Data Stewardess for the Faculty of Philological and Cultural Studies at the University of Vienna. A passionate librarian, she has a background in Library & Information Science, German Literary Studies, and Urban & Regional Development, is professionally interested in web archiving and metadata, and personally enjoys Star Trek, forestry, and cats.

Monika has considerable experience as a member of the editorial board of an OA repository and of a diamond OA journal, both in Library & Information Science.

Otto Bodi-Fernandez

As a senior research associate at the Institute of Sociology, Otto represents AUSSDA at the University of Graz and is thus the contact person for all AUSSDA matters in this region. In addition to research and teaching, he supports AUSSDA in data acquisition, offers advice and training on research data management and assists researchers in archiving replication data.

Meghan Bohardt

Meghan is the Open Science Officer at the Library of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. She enjoys working directly with scientists and university staff to create epistemically fruitful data management structures. With a background in Cultural Anthropology and Library and Information Studies, questions of (in)accessibility and ownership over data and knowledge production inform her work.

Andreas Brandtner

Andreas Brandtner is the Director of the Vienna University Library, bringing extensive experience in library management and academic leadership. Before taking on his current role, he served as the Director of the University Library at Freie Universität Berlin since 2018. His career also includes leadership positions such as Director of Mainz University Library, Associate Director at Vienna University Library, Deputy Head of the Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books at the Vienna City Library, and Project Manager at the Austrian National Library.

In Germany, Dr. Brandtner held several national responsibilities, including serving on the board of the German Initiative for Network Information (DINI) and the Committee on Scientific Library Services and Information Systems (AWBI) of the German Research Society (DFG). He was also a member of the LIBER Leadership Programmes Working Group until mid-2022, where he coordinated the LIBER Journées for Library Directors.

Brandtner earned both his MA and PhD in Philosophy from Vienna University. He also holds an MSc in Library and Information Studies from Vienna University and an MBA in International Arts Management from the University of Salzburg Business School.

Christian Buchmayer

Christian has been with the Vienna University Library since 2012. After working in the CRIS team he became the Open Access Office's dedicated OJS-wrangler in October 2024. He enjoys translating user needs into software. Oddly, he is also particularly curious about IT systems as a manifestation of (bureaucratic) processes.

Daniel Dörler

Daniel Dörler is a Senior Scientist at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, specializing in zoology, ecology, and citizen science. He co-founded the Citizen Science Network Austria and coordinates the platform "Österreich forscht." His work emphasizes citizen science, open science practices, and public engagement, contributing to research transparency and participatory methodologies.

Dominik Denk

Dominik is a librarian in the PHAIDRA-Services team at the University of Vienna Library. He has a background in German Studies and Comparative Literature and supports researchers in research data management and DH projects.

Victoria Eisenheld

Victoria works in the Research and Publication Services Department of the Vienna University Library. She studied German Philology, Linguistics and Library and Information Science. In the PHAIDRA-Services team she is responsible for supporting researchers in using the institutional repository PHAIDRA to publish and archive their research data.

Michael Feichtinger

Michael coordinates the data stewardship program at the University of Vienna. Together with a team of embedded data stewards, he develops needs-based Research Data Management services for researchers and students. He leads the certificate course “Data Steward” – the first further education programme for data stewards in Austria.

Elena Fürst

Elena is deputy head of the Research Information System u:cris at the University of Vienna. She has a background in comparative literature and information management. In her current role she supports researchers in research documentation, research data management and showcasing research activities.

Julia Geistberger

Julia works at AUSSDA, the Austrian Social Science Data Archive, located at the Vienna University Library. She has been engaged in projects to implement and promote the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and developing trainings on open research practices for several years and is currently working  for the project Infra4NextGen, organizing training events on the (re-)use of social survey data.

Werner Gruber

Werner is an Austrian physicist, author, and renowned science communicator working at the Faculty for Computer Science of the University of Vienna. He has directed Vienna’s planetarium and observatories, co-founded the popular Science Busters cabaret, and teaches physics at several universities. Gruber is celebrated for making complex scientific concepts accessible and entertaining to the public through lectures, books, and media appearances, significantly promoting science education and outreach in the German-speaking world.

Christian Gumpenberger

Christian is an Austrian expert in bibliometrics and savvy in Open Access. He holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine and a master's degree in Library and Information Science. As the Head of the Bibliometrics and Publication Strategies team at the University of Vienna, he has been involved in promoting Open Science initiatives in Austria. His work includes leading a subproject in the Austrian Transition to Open Access 2 project (AT2OA2), investigating the visibility of Open Access publications using alternative metrics, as well as co-leading the ORCID Austria Consortium.

Claudia Hackl

Claudia works at the intersection of Open Education and Open Science, supporting higher education institutions in Austria in implementing Open Educational Resources (OER) and developing strategies for upskilling. As part of the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Vienna, she is responsible for advancing OER infrastructure and services in collaboration with various departments, leveraging her background in didactics, informatics, and library science.

Stefan Hanslik

Currently, Stefan Hanslik serves as interim head of Department II/3 Basic Research (MINT) and Research Infrastructures and as head of Division II/3a Technical Sciences at the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research. He is a member of numerous national and European Union committees, including the Governance Board of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and the Sounding Board of Open Science Austria (OSA).

Matthias Heni

Matthias Heni works at the TU Wien Bibliothek as an Information Manager with a focus on persistent identifiers (PIDs) and metadata. He is responsible for the coordination of the Austrian national PID consortia for ORCID and DOI and actively participates in working groups related to persistent identifiers, research infrastructure and open science.

Lisa Hönegger

Lisa is the deputy head of AUSSDA, the Austrian Social Science Data Archive, located at the Vienna University Library. She leads the University's Research Data Management working group and is actively engaged in Open Science and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).

Christoph Hornung

Christoph works at the TU Wien Bibliothek as Head of Publication Services. He has conducted Open Access projects in sustainability research as well as in Romance Studie. In besides blogging and writing, including for iRights.info and open-access.network, he has experience running workshops and working as a freelance consultant on scholarly communication and publishing.

Max Kaiser

Max is the head of the University of Vienna Research and Publication Services Department, which includes six expert teams advancing open science through services in research data management, data stewardship, open access, bibliometrics, research information, and digital preservation. His work supports researchers in meeting open science goals by developing practical, cross-disciplinary infrastructures that simplify publishing, sharing, and research preservation.

Emily J. Kate

Emily is the Data Steward for the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Vienna. With a PhD in Anthropology and Demography, she proudly describes herself as "scientifically nosey" and enjoys connecting with scientists to develop tailored solutions that meet their unique and evolving needs.

Franz Kerschbaum

Franz Kerschbaum teaches Observational Astrophysics at the Institute of Astrophysics at the University of Vienna. His areas of research include the late stages of stellar evolution, astronomical instrument development with a focus on space experiments and questions of the history of science. He also works as a consultant for a number of international institutions such as ESA, ESO and the EU, is popularising astronomy and science and engages in interdisciplinary projects.

Alexander Kohls

Alexander Kohls is the head of the CERN Scientific Information Service. In this role, he spearheads numerous organisational efforts in open science and scholarly communication, alongside overseeing the CERN Library and Archives. Previously an executive in the financial sector, he now promotes global initiatives like SCOAP3, advocating for open access to scientific research and encouraging international collaboration. Alex holds a degree in business administration and joined CERN in 2014.

Peter Kraker

Peter is the founder and chairman of Open Knowledge Maps. He is a longtime open science advocate, former member of the GO FAIR executive board, and reference point for EOSC Austria. Prior to founding Open Knowledge Maps, Peter was a senior researcher at Know Center (TU Graz).

David Krassnig

David Krassnig is a librarian at TU Wien Bibliothek, focusing on open access and publication services. He holds a master’s in Library and Information Science, a state assessor qualification for library services, and a PhD in linguistics. He previously worked in digital humanities at the University Library Johann Christian Senckenberg.

Consuelo Mahrer

Consuelo is part of the u:cris team within the Research and Publication Services Department at the University of Vienna. Alongside her editorial duties, she helps design and implement initiatives to promote information literacy. She oversees data quality, provides user support, and drives the ongoing development of the research information system.

Ronald Maier

Ronald Maier has been Vice-Rector for Digitalisation and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Vienna since 1 October 2019. He is Professor of Information Systems and was head of the Department of Information Systems, Production and Logistics Management at the Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck from 2008 - 2019. Maier studied Business Informatics at the Johannes Kepler University of Linz and obtained his doctorate from the Otto Beisheim Graduate School of Management in Koblenz (WHU), Germany in 1996. Following a visiting professor position at the Terry College of Business, University of Georgia in Athens (US), he received his habilitation degree from the University of Regensburg in 2001. From 2002 until 2007, Maier held a chair in Management Information Systems at the Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.

Paloma Marín-Arraiza

Paloma Marín-Arraiza works at ORCID as the Associate Director of Engagement. She holds a degree in Physics and a master's in Scientific Information and Communication, both from the University of Granada (Spain). Before joining ORCID, she worked in research libraries in Germany and Austria, dealing with non-textual research outputs and persistent identifiers, respectively.

Katja Mayer

Katja Mayer is a sociologist at the University of Vienna’s Department of Science and Technology Studies. She specializes in the intersection of science, technology, and society, focusing on open science, citizen science, and computational social sciences. Her work addresses ethical, cultural, and socio-technical challenges in data-driven research. Mayer has contributed extensively to policy advice, science diplomacy, and participatory methodologies, promoting transparency and inclusivity in knowledge production.

Günther "Gunkl" Paal

Günther Paal, known as "Gunkl," is an Austrian cabaret artist and musician. Renowned for his sharp wit and intellectual humor, he often incorporates philosophical and scientific themes into his performances. Gunkl has established himself as a prominent figure in Austria's cabaret scene, admired for his unique style and thought-provoking commentary. He has received numerous awards, including the Austrian Cabaret Prize in 2018.

Dimitri Prandner

Dimitri is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Empirical Social Research at Johannes Kepler University Linz and the regional contact for AUSSDA in Upper Austria and Salzburg. He supports AUSSDA in accompanying research and offers researchers advice on research data management and data protection. He is a member of the SSÖ consortium, leads work package 5 - Digitisation of social science methodology in the Digitize(!) project and represents Austria in a project on survey data on ethnic and migrant minorities.

Dimitri holds degrees in sociology (Mag.) and communication science (Dr.) and is Ars Docendi laureate 2020.

Katharina Rieck

Katharina Rieck is the open science manager at the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). In this capacity, she is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the FWF’s Open Science agenda. She coordinates funding programs to support Open Access publications and infrastructure and is responsible for the FWF research data management strategy. She represents the FWF in several national and international bodies such as cOAlition S, Crossref Board of Directors, Science Europe Working Groups, CoARA and the steering board of Open Science Austria (OSA).

Barbara Sánchez Solís

Barbara has led the Center for Research Data Management at TU Wien since 2018. There, she supports researchers in the professional handling of research data and provides user-friendly infrastructures and services, such as a repository for publishing research data. She is involved in institutional and national digitization projects and maintains close ties with Austrian research institutions. At the European level, she is contributing to the development of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). She is also committed to integrating research data management into teaching and has played a key role in developing relevant courses.

Bernhard Schubert

Bernhard is deputy head of the Open Access Office at the University of Vienna and has been active in the Open Access movement in Austria and beyond since 2015. His main interest currently lies in the area of scholar-led Diamond OA publishing.

Celine Wawruschka