He studied medicine to completion and then worked at the Kaiserlichen Hof-Naturalienkabinett (now Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) in Vienna, where he worked with Johann Jakob Heckel, among others
In 1841, he became professor for natural science at Lviv University. He returned to Vienna as professor of zoology (November 16, 1849). His primary field of study was ichthyology, with interests in paleontology and geology.
Kner died in Vienna.