Women in Research at the St. Pölten UAS

Women shape the world – in many respects, of course, but also in science. At the St. Pölten UAS, they promote research with their expertise, innovative capacity, and interdisciplinary approaches.

In doing so, they combine research and teaching: Female students are involved in projects, further develop their own ideas, and gather valuable scientific experience. In this way, new knowledge is created – and the next generation of female researchers evolves.

We want to introduce four inspiring women who are making a difference with their research at the St. Pölten UAS.

Research by Women: 4 Examples that Make a Difference

1. She Conducts Research for Mobility, Infrastructure, and Sustainability

Hirut Grossberger researches sustainable mobility concepts that combine ecological and social aspects. Her work shows how resources such as loam excavation material can be reasonably used – for example to build noise protection walls. Using life cycle analyses, Grossberger makes the environmental implications of infrastructure projects transparent and develops solutions for circular construction methods. In addition, she uses entertaining “Serious Games” to provide students with climate protection knowledge.

• Her objective: create mobility that saves resources and is inclusive and viable for the future
• Her position: Senior Researcher at the Carl Ritter von Ghega Institute for Integrated Mobility Research

Go to the researcher portrait of Hirut Grossberger

Hirut Grossberger | Photo: Florian Stix

2. Relieving Arthritis Symptoms through an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Sabine Chmelar combines theory and practice to support people living with arthritis. In her research project NUMOQUA, she explores how nutrition and exercise may improve patients’ quality of life. Together with students, she has developed recipes for an “arthritis cuisine” based on the New Nordic Diet – regional, seasonal, and anti-inflammatory. This approach benefits not only affected persons, but the environment as well.

• Her objective: make nutrition as a therapy comprehensible and suitable for everyday life
• Her position: Junior Researcher at the Institute of Health Sciences

Go to the researcher portrait of Sabine Chmelar

Sabine Chmelar | Photo: Christoph Böhm

3. For a More Equitable Society

Michaela Moser is an advocate of more fairness in society. Her focus areas range from inclusion and participation to democracy development, housing, and social justice. As an expert for community work, Moser explores and supervises projects with students that promote social cohesion and participation – from inclusive sports events to the “St. Pöltner Suppenfest” (soup event) that celebrates diversity.

• Her objective: create structures in which all people are heard and able to actively shape their environment
• Her position: UAS Lecturer, Deputy Head of the Ilse Arlt Institute for Social Inclusion Research

Listen to the podcast (in German):

4. Improving Health with Extended Reality (XR)

Vanessa Yue Fei Leung uses XR technologies specifically where they can achieve something: in the healthcare sector. She develops adaptive training and therapy environments that can be adjusted to users’ needs – from rehabilitation to the promotion of resilience. With her project EyeQTrack, she creates an ecosystem for adaptive XR applications, thus bringing together businesses, science, and practice. In the project XR2ESILIENCE, the researcher uses Extended Reality to develop tailor-made resilience trainings for the health professions.

• Her objective: purposefully use technology for empowering people and making our healthcare system fit for the future
• Her position: Senior Researcher at the Center for Digital Health and Social Innovation

The Senior Researcher is also a mother of two. In our podcast, she talks to students about how parents can help their children to establish health behaviours in media use. The keyword: excessive screen time among children and adolescents and its consequences for mental health.

Listen to the podcast (English episode): 

Diversity, Equality, and Promotion of Women at the St. Pölten UAS

The St. Pölten UAS has committed itself to the Diversity Charter, and Part 3 of our Statute (on equality and the promotion of women) forms the framework. The Gender Equality Plan 2023–2025 of the St. Pölten UAS supports the process of continuous further development in this regard.
Read more about Gender & Diversity topics at the St. Pölten UAS

The St. Pölten UAS is a family-friendly place for studying and working – the basic certificate of the initiative “Hochschule und Familie” attests to this. Our objective is to provide an environment where professional opportunities and family needs are fully compatible.
Read more about family friendliness at the St. Pölten UAS