02. 07. 10. - 14:00

VU to get female chief

Sonja Hammerschmid has been named new head of Vienna’s University of Veterinary Medicine (VU).

The molecular biologist currently heads the technology branch of the Förderbank Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) institute.

VU officials said today (Fri) it has not been decided yet when Hammerschmid takes over as university head.

She is set to succeed Wolf-Dietrich von Fircks whose contract expires next year. Viennese newspapers however claimed it was likely that he will leave the institute early.

Asked whether she had concerns making it in a man-dominated environment, Hammerschmid said: "I’m used to dealing with men as I have worked in the technologies branch for some time."

Helmut Pechlaner, head of the VU council, praised the Upper Austrian as a "new type of science manager" who has both scientific expertise and economic competence.

She said in a first statement her main focus will be on the "tense financial situation we are all confronted with at the moment" when she comes on board.

Hammerschmid will be the second female leader of a state-run university.

Ingela Bruner resigned as head of the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna after two years over internal differences in opinion last year.