Vienna BioCenter PhD Program (Austria)

The Vienna BioCenter PhD Program is a fully funded, salaried doctoral position at one of Europe’s leading life science hubs, home to institutes such as IMP, IMBA, GMI and the Max Perutz Labs. PhD students are employed with a gross salary of roughly EUR 39,000 to 42,900 per year, full social insurance and no tuition barrier.

Research spans molecular biology, neuroscience, immunology, plant science, biochemistry and computational biology, all in English within an international community of more than 40 nationalities. Selection runs twice a year, and the main autumn call closes on October 15, 2026 for interviews in Vienna with paid travel.

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in the life sciences or a related field such as molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, chemistry, physics, computer science or medicine.
• The official master's certificate and transcripts must be available at the latest six months after the application deadline.
• Prior full-time research experience (for example a master's thesis project or internships) makes an application much stronger.
• High proficiency in written and spoken English; a formal test (IELTS, TOEFL or CPE) is recommended but not mandatory.
• Open to all nationalities; around 25 to 30 students are admitted per call from more than 2,000 applicants.
• Two referees are mandatory (a third is optional) and must submit before the deadline.
• Students with only a bachelor's degree are advised to complete a master's first, for example in Vienna.

• Full employment contract as a PhD researcher with a salary of roughly EUR 39,000 to 42,900 gross per year (2025 level), plus Austrian social insurance.
• Four-year structured PhD across more than 70 research groups at the IMP, IMBA, GMI and Max Perutz Labs, with degrees awarded by the University of Vienna or the Medical University of Vienna.
• Access to world-class core facilities; the campus motto is that there is virtually no experiment that cannot be done at the VBC.
• Help with visas and residence permits, refunded permit costs for newcomers, German courses and an active welcome office.
• Training programme covering scientific writing, presentation and career development, with funds for conferences.
• Vienna is regularly ranked among the most liveable cities in the world, and students can live comfortably on the salary.

• Online application through the VBC application portal (opens with each call).
• Three short essays inside the form: past research experience, scientific interests for the PhD, and a motivation letter.
• University transcripts and diplomas from all degree programmes, in English and in the original language.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Contact details of two mandatory referees (third optional), who submit their letters through the reference module.
• English test result (IELTS, TOEFL or CPE) if available; recommended but not required.

• Study the participating research groups on the VBC website and select the groups that match your interests before starting the form.
• Apply during one of the two annual calls; the autumn call requires you to start your application by October 10, 2026 and submit everything, including references, by October 15, 2026 (23:59 CET).
• Send your referees the reference-module link yourself and confirm they have received it; applications without two references cannot be submitted.
• Shortlisted candidates are invited to interviews with faculty, held mostly online, with results issued within weeks of the call closing.
• Successful candidates then complete formal admission at the University of Vienna or Medical University of Vienna with the programme's support.
• A spring call also runs each year (submission around mid-April) if you miss the autumn round.