Professor of Clinical Psychology of Adulthood
T: +43-1-4277-47220
E: urs.nater@univie.ac.at
Room O1.39
Department for Clinical and Health Psychology
Liebiggasse 5
1010 Vienna
Research Interests
- Experimental stress research
- Identification of mechanisms of stress-related morbidity
- Development of stress measurement methods
- Identification of biomarkers of stress-related medically unexplained physical complaints (especially chronic fatigue)
- Investigation of stress-relevant systems, such as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis), immune system, and autonomic nervous system, with focus on peripheral markers and gene expression profiles
- Investigation of the effects of interventions on the psychophysiological stress response (stress management training, music)
Positions and Employment
| 2001-2005 | Fellow and lecturer at the University of Zurich, Department of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, Zurich. Switzerland |
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| 2005-2007 | Post-doctoral Fellow at Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Atlanta/GA, USA, and at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention CDC), Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Chronic Viral Diseases, Atlanta/GA, USA |
| 2007 | Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Chronic Viral Diseases (Chief: William C. Reeves, MD), Atlanta/GA, USA |
| 2007-2010 | Assistant Professor (Oberassistent), University of Zurich, Department of Psychology, Dept. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, Zurich, Switzerland |
| Since 2007 | Guest Researcher at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Chronic Viral Diseases Branch, Atlanta/GA, USA |
| 2011-2017 | Lichtenberg Professor of Clinical Biopsychology (W3, Full Professor with Tenure), University of Marburg, Dept. of Psychology, Marburg, Germany |
| Since 2017 | Professor of Clinical Psychology (Full Professor with Tenure), University of Vienna, Dept. of Psychology, Vienna, Austria |
| Since 2018 | Head of the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Vienna Austria |
| Since 2020 | Head of the Research Platform The Stress of Life (SOLE) – Processes and Mechanism underlying Everyday Life Stress, Vienna, Austria |
Education
1995-2001 | Studies of Psychology, Psychopathology and Neurophysiology at the University of Zurich Switzerland (degree: lic. phil.) |
2002-2004 | PhD-Programme of the Neuroscience Center Zurich of the University of Zurich and the ETH Zürich, Switzerland (Certificate in Neuroscience) |
2004 | PhD |
Honors
- Best Poster Award, 5th Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Sciences in Music in Hannover, Germany, 2003
- 1st Student Poster Prize, 25th European Congress for Psychosomatic Research in Berlin, Germany, 2004
- Young Investigator Award, International Society for Psychoneuroendocrinology (ISPNE), 2005
- Jungwissenschaftlerpreis / Young Scientist Award, Swiss Society of Psychology, 2005
- Best Clinical Case Award, Swiss Society for Neuroscience (SSN), 2006
- Scholar Award, American Psychosomatic Society (APS), 2006
- Young Investigator Travel Award, International Neuroendocrine Federation (INF), 2006
- Early Career Award, International Society for Behavioral Medicine (ISBM), 2006
- Irmela-Florin-Forschungspreis, German Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2007
- Charlotte- und Karl-Bühler-Award, German Society of Psychology, 2012
- Outstanding New Investigator Award, International Society for Behavioral Medicine (ISBM), 2016
- Distinguished International Affiliate der Society for Health Psychology (Div. 38 APA), 2018
Editorial Board Membership
- BMC Research Notes (Associate Editor, 2010-2015)
- BMC Psychology (Associate Editor, since 2015)
- Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine (Springer, Associate Editor, since 2010)
- International Journal of Behavioral Medicine (since 2010, Associate Editor 2010-2018)
- ISRN Neuroendocrinology (2011-2013)
- Medicine (Academic Editor, 2014-2017)
- Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (since 2015)
- Frontiers in Affective Disorders and Psychosomatic Research (since 2015)
- The Open Neuroendocrinology Journal (2008-2012)
- PLOS ONE (Academic Editor, since 2014)
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (since 2010)
- Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology (since 2019)
- Stress (since 2014, since 2019 Associate Editior-in-Chief)
- Musicae Scientiae (since 2015)
Ad-hoc Reviewing for funding institutions (selection)
- Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development
- Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO, Belgium)
- CFIDS Association of America
- Research Council K.U. Leuven
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
- European Science Foundation
- Österreichische Nationalbank Jubiläumsfonds (OeNB)
Journal Reviewer
- for more than 100 scientific journals
Professional Services
| 2003 | Organizing Committee Member of the 1st licentiates and doctoral students congress of the Department of Psychology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland |
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| 2004-2012 | Member of the Committee for Certification of the Swiss Society of Clinical Psychology |
| 2007-2010 | Program Committee Member of the American Psychosomatic Society (APS) |
| 2008-2009 | Organizing Committee member of the 6th Workshop Congress of the Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy |
| 2008-2010 | Newsletter Editor of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine (ISBM) |
| 2009-2012 | Member of the Board and the Executive Committee (Secretary) International Society of Behavioral Medicine (ISBM) |
| 2009-2014 | Member of the Membership Committee of the American Psychosomatic Society (APS) |
| 2010-2012 | Co-Chair des Liaison Committee der American Psychosomatic Society (APS) |
| 2010-2016 | Member of the Council of the American Psychosomatic Society (APS) |
| 2012-2016 | Member of the Board and Chair of the Communication Committee of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine (ISBM) |
| 2013-2016 | Secretary-Treasurer and member of the Executive Committee of the American Psychosomatic Society (APS) |
| 2013-2016 | Mentor of the Hessen-wide SciMento network dedicated to the advancement of women in science |
| 2016-2018 | President-elect of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine (ISBM) |
| 2017 | Founding member of the Special Interest Group “Biopsychology and Neuroscience in Clinical Psychology” |
| 2018-2020 | President of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine (ISBM) |
Professional academic services
| 2007-2010 | Study Consultant for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Switzerland |
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| 2008-2010 | Representative for the Master's Program in Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland |
| 2011-2013, 2014-2017 | Member of Bachelor/Master Committee of the Dept. of Psychology, University of Marburg, Germany |
| 2013-2015 | Responsible Professor for Laboratory, measurement and IT technology (deputy) |
| 2013-2015 | Member of the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Psychology, University of Marburg, Germany |
| 2013-2016 | Chair of the Election Committee of the Dept. of Psychology, University of Marburg |
| 2013-2017 | Mentor of the Hessen-wide SciMento network dedicated to the advancement of women in science |
| 2013-2017 | Member of the Local Ethics Committee of the Dept. of Psychology, University of Marburg |
| 2013-2017 | Member of the Examination Committee (Diploma 1994) of the Dept. of Psychology, University of Marburg |
| 2015 | Member of the Aptitude Test Commission for the Master's programme in Psychology |
| 2015-2017 | Deputy representative of the Department of Psychology at the German “Fakultätentag Psychologie” |
| Since 2017 | Teaching Coordinator for Clinical and Health Psychology |
| Since 2018 | Head of the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Vienna Austria |
| Since 2018 | Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Outpatient Unit of Research, Teaching and Practice |
| Since 2018 | Member of the Faculty Conference |
Publications
Showing entries 1 - 4 out of 330
Ali, N., Strahler, J., & Nater, U. M. (2025). The effects of chronic fatigue and chronic stress on alterations in immune cell responses to acute psychosocial stress. Brain, behavior, and immunity, 123(123), 707-716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2024.10.013
Pronizius, E., Forbes, P. A. G., Feneberg, A. C., Miculescu, B., Nater, U. M., Piperno, G., Silani, G., Stijovic, A., & Lamm, C. (2024). Everyday helping is associated with enhanced mood but greater stress when it is more effortful. Scientific Reports, 14(1), Article 24120. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75261-z
Amini-Nejad, R., Nater-Mewes, R., & Nater, U. M. (2024). Perceptions of Mental Health and Attitudes towards Seeking Mental Health Services in Syrian Refugees in Austria. In Abstracts - Congress of the German and Austrian Psychological Societies, Vienna 2024 (pp. 923-924)
Bencker, C., Gschwandtner, L. P., Nayman, S., Grikšienė, R., Nguyen, B., Nater, U. M., Guennoun, R., Sundström-Poromaa, I., Pletzer, B., Bixo, M., & Comasco, E. (2025). Progestagens and progesterone receptor modulation: Effects on the brain, mood, stress, and cognition in females. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 76, Article 101160. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2024.101160