Research Focus Areas

Short Biography

Petra Hirzer received her doctorate in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the University of Vienna in 2017. Her early research focused on the interplay between cultural practices and media representations; her dissertation examined transcultural fan cultures of Indian popular culture in Latin America based on many years of ethnographic field research. She is currently focusing on issues of (urban) coexistence, migration, diversity, and integration. A key focus of her university teaching is on teaching social science and subject-specific research methods, particularly ethnography. In addition, she is committed to translating theoretical findings into practical contexts and exploring new ways of communicating science. In addition to research and teaching, Petra Hirzer works at the interface between theory and practice. She is a research associate and equal opportunities officer at the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS) in Vienna, a board member of the VISSA association (Association for Interdisciplinary Studies and Analysis), and, since 2009, editor and proofreader of the Sozialwissenschaftliche Rundschau. Since 2019, she has also headed the cultural association Vielfalt im Zentrum, where she develops innovative educational formats for adult and youth education.

Selected Publications

• Hirzer, Petra (2021): Digitaler Wandel in der Personalgewinnung. Perspektiven und Herausforderungen für eine diversitätsorientierte Personalpolitik. In: Sozialwissenschaftliche Rundschau, 61. Jahrgang, Heft 4/2021, 412-431.
• Hirzer, Petra (2021): Digital Diversity. Digitalisierung, Automatisierung und Diversität im Recruiting. Masterarbeit FH bfi Wien.
• Hirzer, Petra; Klien-Thomas, Hanna (2021): Wenn Bilder tanzen: Performative Dimensionen von visuellen Medienpraktiken. In: Bernhard, Petra; Breckner, Roswitha; Liebhart, Karin; Pohn-Lauggas, Maria (Hg.): Visual Studies in Social Science. Universität Wien. 133-163.
• Hirzer, Petra (2017): Transcultural fandom: Indische Populärkultur in Peru. Dissertation Universität Wien.
• Hirzer, Petra (2015): Fandom beyond Borders and Boundaries. In: Mader, E., R. Dudrah, & B. Fuchs (Hg.): Shah Rukh Khan and Global Bollywood. New Delhi: Oxford University Press India, 182-199.
• Hirzer, Petra; Kroismayr, Sigrid; Bittner, Marc (2015): Schulschließungen im ländlichen Raum – Beginn oder Endpunkt einer demografischen, wirtschaftlichen und sozialen Abwärtsspirale? In: Egger, Rudolf; Posch, Alfred (Hg.): Lebensentwürfe im ländlichen Raum. Springer VS, 139-167.