Vienna, Austria, 4.-5.12.2023

Populations are inherently heterogeneous, consisting of a number of individuals with different education level, socioeconomic status, labour market participation, and health. These and other characteristics lead to disparities and inequalities both within and across populations. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of demographic and socio-economic inequalities is key for evidence-based policy decisions. Consequently, researchers are facing an increasing demand to effectively integrate these heterogeneities into their analysis and future projections. 

The Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) is delighted to announce its 2023 Winter School on Population Heterogeneities. It will be held in Vienna, Austria, on 4-5 December 2023 (in person).

The Winter School on Population Heterogeneities is an intensive two-day program designed to enhance students' skills and knowledge in identifying and critically assessing population heterogeneities. It comprises a series of interrelated lecture blocks focusing on the assessment of population heterogeneities in key areas of demographic research such as in healthy survival, migration, and in family demography (details below). An emphasis will be placed on effective research strategies to overcome diverse challenges that may arise when addressing population heterogeneities. In addition, the Winter School will provide technical insights into macro- and micro-level analysis to uncover differences across regions and socioeconomic groups. Major value is placed on interaction between attendees and instructors throughout the course.

By the end of the Winter School, students will have a comprehensive understanding of population heterogeneity and its drivers in different demographic contexts and will be equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to critically assess data and interpret findings.

The Winter School ties into the theme of this year's Wittgenstein Centre Conference “Exploring Population Heterogeneities” which will take place right after the Winter School (6-7 December 2023). We encourage all applicants to take part in the Conference to further deepen their knowledge.

The Winter School will be held in person in Vienna. The program will comprise a combination of lectures with ample opportunities for participants to ask questions, small group activities, and hands-on assignments. The group size is limited to 20-30 participants to ensure a conducive learning environment, foster engagement, and allow for active participation of each attendee. It is mandatory for attendees to be present for all sessions to obtain the certificate of completion. Participants must bring their own laptops with them.

We welcome applications from PhD students (enrolled in a doctoral program) and early PostDocs/Junior researchers. The Winter School aims to connect scholars interested in identifying and analysing population heterogeneities in various fields of Demography (such as Fertility and Family, Mortality, and Migration) and related disciplines (including Economics, Sociology, or Statistics).

There is no tuition fee. Applicants can apply for financial support w.r.t. their travel and accommodation expenses, if needed. The availability of financial support is subject to budgetary constraints, and submitting an application does not guarantee that it will be successful.

Your application file has to include 

• Your academic CV (max. 2 pages) 
• A one-to-two-page statement that outlines
  • Your motivation to attend the Winter School and how participating will enhance your professional development  
  • A concise summary of your current research plan, and how it relates to the Winter School 

Please name your application file beginning with your surname in capital letters and make sure to upload a single pdf-file (for example MYNAME_winterschool_vid.pdf).

Alexia Fürnkranz-Prskawetz, VID/OeAW, IIASA, TU Wien
Paola Di Giulio, VID/OeAW
Inga Freund VID/OeAW
Ingrid Setz, VID/OeAW
Dilek Yildiz, IIASA, VID/OeAW
Krystof Zeman, VID/OeAW 

Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail at

winterschool.vid(at)oeaw.ac.at

We are happy to assist you!