Ulrich Kropiunigg, PhD

Prof. emeritus (Psychology) Medical University of Vienna

Previously a University Professor at the Centre for Public Health at the Medical University of Vienna. Dr Kropiunigg’s studies have pursued psychology and psychotherapy with a strong awareness of social and political phenomena. Among other topics like psychoimmunology and psychosocial factors in Alzheimer's disease, he has focussed on attitude changes and group dynamics in peace-camps, taboos in families of adolescents, the psychological determinants of radicalization and the early prevention of extremism. As part of the latter he co-designed the curricula for Women without Borders’ Mother Schools programme, which aims to encourage and educate family members, particularly mothers, to take an active role in safeguarding their families and communities.

In the HD & Co research group, Ulrich Kropiunigg serves as a mentor to those among the closer study team who are interested in qualitative research (Vincent Rathkolb, Moritz Reuthe, Lukas Hofstetter, Viktoria Tinhof, Hannah Mayfurth  and others). Of note, the qualititive research aspects of all HD & Co projects have been inspired by an important collaboration with Tanja Stamm (Medical University of Vienna) and Allison Tong (University of Sidney), on gender differences in chronic kidney disease (CKD) care. Specifically, Allison Tong has led an important interview study with CKD patients in Austria, asking men and women and their respective caretakers for their experiences in the clinic and with their disease.