The Institute (OIF)

The Austrian Institute for Family Studies (OIF) at the University of Vienna is an independent research institute that was founded as an association in 1994 and found its new home at the University of Vienna in 2006. An interdisciplinary research team is dedicated to both basic and applied research into the lived realities, structures and dynamics of families, generations, genders and partnerships. In doing so, we strive to do justice to the diversity and the changing nature of familial relationships, to understand them, and to make them visible.

The Institute was established in 1994 as an independent, non-profit association. Since April 2006, the OIF has been a third-party-funded project pursuant to § 27 of the Universities Act 2002 at the University of Vienna, under the title "Project: Family Research in Austria (Austrian Institute for Family Studies)". Within the University, the OIF is, in organisational terms, primarily based in the Faculty of Social Sciences. In an advisory capacity, and in accordance with the AIF statutes, the Board of Trustees (Kuratorium) is active.

In 2006, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Mazal (Department of Labour and Social Law) was appointed Director of the Institute. Since 2026, Privatdozent Dr. Eva‑Maria Schmidt has served as Deputy Director. The Commercial Managing Director has been Dr. Isabella Hranek since 2006.

The OIF brings together researchers from the fields of sociology, psychology, economics, statistics, social pedagogy, political science, history, ethnology, law and anthropology. This ensures an interdisciplinary approach to family research.

One of the Institute’s most important tasks is extensive information and outreach work. New scientific insights into family life worlds are to be made available to a broad public. To this end, the OIF uses a range of formats, including the publication of academic works, the newsletter “beziehungsweise”, the provision of a publicly accessible library, the organisation of specialist events (Family 3.0, conferences), as well as lectures and consultant services.

As a social-science research institute at the University of Vienna, we see it as our task to conduct research at the cutting edge. This also includes the responsible use of new methods, including AI-based tools. At present, there are no uniformly binding guidelines for the use or labelling of AI in the social sciences. We therefore wish to disclose how we use AI in our day-to-day research. OIF Statement on AI

Our institute is adorned with works on loan from the artists Brigitte Aiginger, Dietmar Baierl, Peter Dittrich, Claudia Jäger, Dénes Kovács, Katharina Past and Gabriela Pressl. Information about the artists and their works.

Address: Grillparzerstr. 7/9, 1010 Vienna
Our institute is located in Vienna’s 1st district, between the Main University building and the Vienna City Hall. You can reach us by public transport and a short walk from the following stops: Schottentor (U2, 1, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 71, D, 1A, 40A), Rathaus (U2), Landesgerichtsstraße (43, 44) and Rathausplatz/Burgtheater (D, 1, 71) (Public Transport).