Anaïs Angelo

Research Area: African Studies
Institute of Culture Studies of the OeAW

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I am a historian trained in political science. My research explores the formation of the postcolonial state in Africa: African presidents have their own history and the making of presidential systems of power can be documented. More recently, I have brought gender perspectives into the field by examining the first African women who fought to increase women’s representation in parliament. I am now developing a project on the postcolonial history of decolonization. The Young Academy offers a unique space to strengthen interdisciplinary dialogue, discuss research practices, and advance the frontiers of knowledge production. To this end, I am particularly committed to questions of inclusion and to improving the conditions for sustainable and productive research careers.

Anne Sophie Meincke

Research Area: Philosophy
University of Vienna

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I am a philosopher who specialises in metaphysics, the philosophy of mind and action, and the philosophy of science. What is the fundamental nature of reality? What is the mind? What is life? What constitutes an agent? Do we have free will? I believe these questions can be answered more effectively when the findings of the empirical sciences are taken into account. At the same time, I am convinced that natural science benefits from careful reflection on its philosophical foundations and implications. The Young Academy provides an ideal platform for the kind of interdisciplinary dialogue that is essential for pioneering research. I enjoy engaging with broader audiences through various media. I am committed to promoting gender equality and inclusion in science, and to ensuring that early- and mid-career researchers can pursue their work in stable, supportive environments.

Marcus Ossiander

Research Area: Physics
Graz University of Technology

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My research group develops novel meta-optics at the intersection of basic research and engineering science. These optics consist of millions of nanostructures that, collectively, can shape or focus light. We specialize in meta-optics for extreme ultraviolet light to enable microscopes with high combined spatial and temporal resolution. These microscopes will allow us to study how solids behave in the first femtoseconds after absorbing light.

At the ÖAW Young Academy, I enjoy learning about the research questions, working methods, and career paths of various fields. With these perspectives, I look forward to engaging with research funders, policymakers, and the public to preserve and emphasize the importance of knowledge-based decision-making and technological problem-solving.

Ugur Öztürk

Research Area: Geosciences
University of Vienna

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I work at the intersection of geosciences and geography, where my group models geohazards in human–environment systems. We build physics-based models that incorporate machine-learning-enhanced urban and geospatial data. At the heart of my research agenda are questions that reframe risk: Why do people die in “natural” disasters? What is our role in shaping and controlling them? Are hazards really natural—or socio-natural? The Young Academy is an opportunity to stay in close proximity to fellow researchers from all domains. Together, we can bridge the gap between research and society, driving meaningful change for today's most pressing, complex problems, such as environmental challenges.

Birgitta Schultze Bernhardt

Research Area: Physics
Graz University of Technology

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Meine Forschung befasst sich mit experimenteller Laserspektroskopie, bei der ich die Licht-Materie-Wechselwirkung nutze, um optische Eigenschaften und physikalische Prozesse in unterschiedlichsten Proben genauer zu charakterisieren. Dazu benutzen wir in meiner Arbeitsgruppe ultrakurze Laserpulse für unterschiedliche Spektroskopiemethoden, die hohe spektrale und hohe zeitliche Auflösungen erlauben. Unseren Forschungsfokus konnten wir jüngst von der Grundlagenforschung auf interdisziplinäre Anwendungen erweitern. Daher reizt mich innerhalb der Jungen Akademie besonders der anregende Austausch zwischen unterschiedlichen Fachrichtungen – österreichweit. Durch meinen Forschungsstandort Graz ist es mir außerdem ein Anliegen, die Aktivitäten der ÖAW und der Jungen Akademie über die Grenzen Wiens hinaus sichtbarer zu machen.