Awards
Our PhD students have received numerous prestigious dissertation awards and international research distinctions, recognizing the originality, theoretical contributions, and methodological rigor of their work. These honors, awarded by leading academic associations and institutions worldwide, reflect the international recognition of our early-career researchers and our commitment to fostering outstanding doctoral research.
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Melanie Saumer (2026)
Top Social Science Dissertation Award
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of ViennaDissertation: Fifty shades of digital hate: Disentangling target and bystander experiences of anti-LGBTQIA+ online hostility with distinction
Anja Stevic -
Jaroslava Kaňková (2026)
2026 Abby Prestin Dissertation of the Year Award
Health Communication Divisions of the International Communication (ICA) and the National Communication Association (NCA)Dissertation: With great power comes great responsibility: Misleading health messaging by social media influencers – Characteristics, effects, and countering strategies
Christina Brandstetter -
Selina Noetzel (2025)
Award of Excellence
Austrian Federal Ministry of Women, Science and ResearchTop Social Science Dissertation Award
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of ViennaDissertation: Why am I seeing this? Cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral effects of online political microtargeting
Anja Stevic -
Franz Reiter (2024)
Young Scholar Award
Austrian Political Science Association (ÖGPW)Dissertation: Dirty campaigning in electoral communication: Perceptions and effects
Anja Stevic -
Ruta Kaskeleviciute (2024)
Kyoon Hur Dissertation Award
Mass Communication Division of the International Communication Association (ICA)Dissertation: Perceptions and effects of mediated terrorism: An intergroup approach
Christina Brandstetter -
Marlis Stubenvoll (2023)
Top Social Science Dissertation Award
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of ViennaDissertation: Why misperceptions persist: The role of resistance to evidence in political news
Christian von Sikorski -
Andreas Nanz (2022)
Top Social Science Dissertation Award
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of ViennaPolitical Communication Division PhD Dissertation Award
International Communication AssociationDissertation: Incidental exposure in the online world: Antecedents, mechanisms, and consequences
Anja Stevic -
Alice Binder (2020)
Top Social Science Dissertation Award
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Vienna2021 Abby Prestin Dissertation of the Year Award
Health Communication Divisions of the International Communication (ICA) and the National Communication Association (NCA)Dissertation: The influence of healthy food placements within children's movies. Persuasive mechanisms and effects
Alice Binder -
Raffael Heiss (2018)
Top Social Science Dissertation Award
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of ViennaEUREGIO Dissertation Award
Land TirolDissertation: Political actors on social media: Content, exposure and effects
AdMe Research Group -
Kathrin Karsay (2018)
Top Social Science Dissertation Award
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of ViennaAward of Excellence
Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and ResearchKyoon Hur Dissertation Award
Mass Communication Division of the International Communication Association (ICA)Dissertation: Objects of desire. Content and effects of sexualizing media
AdMe Research Group -
Desirée Schmuck (2017)
Outstanding Doctoral Theses Award
University of ViennaDissertation: Us against them: The effects of right-wing populist political advertising on intergroup attitudes
AdMe Research Group -
Brigitte Naderer (2017)
Bank Austria Research Award
Bank Austria StiftungTop Dissertation Award
CAM Division, International Communication AssociationDissertation: The influence of product placements in children's movies. Content, underlying mechanism and protective measures
Christian von Sikorski