Urs Nater

Univ.-Prof. Dr.

Urs Markus Nater

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology
Liebiggasse 5
A-1010 Vienna
Room: O1.39

Talking hours: upon request

Email
+43-1-4277-47220

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
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, 5^th Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Sciences in Music in Hannover, Germany, 2003
1^st Student Poster Prize, 25^th 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
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 6^th 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)

Participation in academic self-administration

2007-2010: Study Consultant for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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

2026

Bencker, C., Schmalenberger, K., Comasco, E., & Nater, U. M. (2026). Psychobiological stress and premenstrual symptoms across the menstrual cycle: protocol for an ecological momentary assessment (ISSAC) study. BMJ Open, 16. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-123210

Dreisörner, A., Goetz, V., Frohnmayer, D., Tran, U., Voracek, M., & Nater, U. M. (2026). Prevalence and severity of mental health problems in early-career researchers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nature Human Behaviour.

Raidl, P., Vogl, A., Dreisörner, A., Wessner, B., Nater, U. M., & Csapo, R. (2026). Does Aerobic Capacity Protect Against Stress? Insights From Two Stress-Induction Paradigms. Psychophysiology, 63(6), Article e70350. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.70350

Fekete, A., Maidhof, R., Specker, E., Gartus, A., Nater, U. M., & Leder, H. (2026). Registered Report: How does art impact pain and stress? Exposure to multimodal art (Music + Visual) and music alone enhances pain tolerance more than visual art, but neither art form impacts autonomic or endocrine markers. PLoS ONE, 21, Article e0334060. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0334060

Zormann, E., Foramitti, M., & Nater, U. M. (2026). Perceived health benefits of martial arts and combat sports. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, 1-12. Article 1774069. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1774069