Vienna International Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 offers a fully funded opportunity for outstanding international researchers to advance their academic careers in Austria. This prestigious program provides a competitive annual gross salary of €70,040, comprehensive health insurance, and additional child support ranging from €110 to €170 per month, ensuring fellows can focus entirely on their research and innovation goals.
The Vienna International Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 (VIP2) is a three-year research program hosted by the renowned Vienna BioCenter (VBC). It welcomes scholars from diverse fields, including biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, engineering, computer science, and bioinformatics. The fellowship follows a unique dual-mentorship model, allowing participants to work under the guidance of two mentors-one from their main research group and another from the VBC network, biotech sector, or alumni community- fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and professional growth.
Benefits of Vienna International Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026
Vienna International Postdoctoral Program provides the recipient with the following benefits:
- Salary: Each fellow receives a yearly gross salary of 70,040 EUR paid in 14 installments (12 months plus one Christmas and one-holiday bonus, according to Austrian law)
- Full health insurance
- Social security includes fully paid maternity leave (16 weeks), the possibility of paid parental leave (up to 24 months), pension contribution, and accident insurance.
- Families receive additional support for each child (“Familienbeihilfe”) that ranges from 110 – 170 EUR per month per child, depending on the age of the child.
- Tax deductions apply to single-income families.
- Mechanisms are in place to contribute to the relocation costs of the fellows.
Eligibility Criteria for Vienna International Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026
To qualify for Vienna International Postdoctoral Program, candidate must fulfill all of the following requirements below:
- Required Language: English.
- Eligible Countries: All world countries
- Applicants must hold a PhD in life sciences or related disciplines such as physics, engineering, chemistry, computer science, or mathematics.
- The proposed scientific project must match the research carried out on campus (applicants should name one or more potential host groups).
- Interdisciplinary and inter-lab projects are highly encouraged.
- Candidates are kindly requested to communicate with their preferred mentor(s) prior to and during composing their individual research projects.
- Applicants must have at least one first-author publication or manuscript published on bioRxiv or arXiv.
- By the time of the call deadline (15 June) applicants must also undertake transnational mobility according to the Marie Curie Action. That is, they should not have resided in or carried out their main activity (work, studies) in Austria for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the call deadline.
How to Apply for Vienna International Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026
- Visit the official website
- Fill out the online application form with personal details (name, contact info, institution, etc.)
- Select your main scientific area (one of 7 at VBC) and list up to 5 related keywords
- Provide the DOI of at least one first-author publication or manuscript
- Add contact details of two referees (at least one reference letter must be uploaded before submission)
- Upload required documents:
- Updated CV (from Bachelor’s level onward)
- Transcripts and certificates in PDF format
- Five-page research proposal aligned with host lab goals
- One-page public summary highlighting societal impact
- Letter/email of support from your chosen group leader
- Submit your completed application and await notification for the on-site interview phase
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This three-year Vienna International Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 at Vienna BioCenter targets postdocs in life sciences and related fields, offering structured mentoring, inter-disciplinary research, and career training. Applicants must hold a PhD, meet mobility rules, select mentors, and propose a project aligned with host-group research.
What is the Vienna International Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026?
The fellowship is a three-year postdoctoral programme at the Vienna BioCenter that supports talented scientists from various fields (biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, engineering, computer science, bioinformatics) to conduct ambitious research.
Who is eligible to apply for the Vienna International Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026?
Eligible applicants hold a PhD in life sciences or related fields such as chemistry, physics, engineering or computer science. They should show scientific excellence and independence, and the proposed project must align with host-group research.
What kind of research fields are accepted?
The programme invites candidates across life sciences and associated disciplines including biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, engineering, computer science and bioinformatics—inter-disciplinary and inter-lab proposals are highly encouraged.
What mentoring support does the Vienna International Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 provide?
Fellows benefit from a two-mentor scheme: one primary mentor from the host group and a secondary mentor from within the institute or external network. They receive regular career development planning and annual mentor meetings.
What training and career development opportunities are included?
The programme offers structured training in transferable skills, effective mentoring, coaching by an advisory board, secondment options and networking with academic and non-academic sectors — all designed to support independence.
What is the mobility requirement for applicants?
Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies) in Austria for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the call deadline, following typical transnational mobility rules.
How long is the Vienna International Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 period?
The fellowship is awarded for a duration of three years, enabling fellows to develop their research projects and progress toward independent careers within this timeframe.
What are the benefits of the English-speaking campus and infrastructure?
The Vienna BioCenter is an English-speaking international campus with outstanding research infrastructure, health-care benefits, pension contributions and subsidised child-care, creating a highly supportive environment.
What kind of project proposals are desired?
The programme seeks proposals with potential to evolve into distinct research lines, ideally interdisciplinary and multi-group, aligned to the host group’s strengths and enabling future independence of the candidate.
How do I choose mentors and host groups?
Applicants select a host group leader as primary mentor and, after the fellowship starts, choose a secondary mentor. They should align their research project with the host group’s area and can draw on wider networks for mentorship.
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