Nikolaus Poechhacker

Nikolaus Poechhacker is a Research Fellow at the Department of Innovation and Digitalisation in Law, University of Vienna, and a Postdoctoral researcher at IDea_Lab, University of Graz. He holds a PhD in Sociology from the Technical University of Munich and earned an MA in Science and Technology Studies (STS) and BA in Sociology from the University of Vienna. Prior to his academic career, he worked as an IT professional.

Education:

• PhD in Sociology (Technical University of Munich)
• MA in STS (University of Vienna)
• BA in Sociology (University of Vienna)

Research Interests span algorithmic systems, machine learning, legal technologies, and the social theory of digital societies. His work critically examines the intersection of law, technology, and democratic governance, with a focus on ethical design, accountability frameworks, and sociotechnical imaginaries.

Recent Publications (2021–2025) explore topics such as democratic recommender systems, AI regulation, algorithmic risk assessment in legal systems, and the sociopolitical implications of sensing technologies. Key trends include algorithmic accountability, digital infrastructure politics, and equitable AI development.

Scientific Awards:

• STS Austria Early Career Award (2021) for his PhD thesis Rule(s) of Recommendation

Teaching includes courses on Algorithms and Democracy (University of Klagenfurt), Legal Design Sprint (University of Vienna), and workshops on grounded theory and datafication. He co-organized conferences like the STS Graz 2023 and European Workshop for Algorithmic Fairness (EWAF) 2025.

Labs and Teams: Active in IDea_Lab (Graz) and STS Austria, he collaborates on sociotechnical system analyses and digital governance challenges. His work bridges academic research with public policy interventions.