- €70,040 / year grossAnnual salary
- 3 yearsFellowship duration
- Paid in 14 installmentsPlus Christmas & holiday bonus
- ~€110–170 / month per child (est.)Family allowance
- Two-mentor schemePrimary + secondary mentor
- Open to all nationalitiesGlobal eligibility
At a glance
full
Funding
€70k
Max amount
Jun 15, 2027
Deadline
All countries (open worldwide)
Country
Vienna BioCenter (VBC)
Provider
The Vienna International Postdoctoral Program (VIP2) is a three-year postdoctoral fellowship run by the Vienna BioCenter, a research campus in Austria that brings together several institutes and a surrounding biotech sector. Each fellow receives a gross annual salary of 70,040 EUR, paid in 14 installments under Austrian law (12 monthly payments plus a Christmas and a holiday bonus), together with full health insurance, pension and accident contributions, and family support of 110 to 170 EUR per month per child. The programme uses a two-mentor scheme: fellows choose a primary host group plus a secondary mentor drawn from the institutes, the biotech sector, or the alumni network, and projects are expected to grow into independent research lines. Candidates must hold a PhD in life sciences or a related field, show at least 1 first-author publication or a preprint on bioRxiv or arXiv, and meet the Marie Curie mobility rule of not having spent more than 12 months in Austria during the 3 years before the deadline. Selected applicants are invited to an on-site interview. Because the salary, family allowances, and call window are set each round, confirm the exact current-cycle figures and the 2026 deadline on the official Vienna BioCenter VIP2 page before you apply.
What's covered
- Annual salary — Gross annual salary of €70,040, paid in 14 installments (12 monthly payments plus a Christmas and a holiday bonus) as required by Austrian law.
- Health insurance — Full health insurance coverage is provided for the fellow throughout the three-year appointment.
- Social security benefits — Fully paid maternity leave for 16 weeks, optional paid parental leave up to 24 months, plus pension and accident insurance contributions.
- Family allowance — Family support ("Familienbeihilfe") of about ~€110 to €170 (est.) per month per child, depending on the child's age.
- Relocation support — Mechanisms are in place to assist fellows with the costs of relocating to Vienna at the start of the fellowship.
- Structured training — A career-development programme covering research and transferable skills, plus coaching from the VIP2 Advisory Board (VAB).
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the online VIP2 portal and require a project proposal plus at least one reference letter before the call deadline.
- Open the application portal — Access the VIP2 application portal via the official Vienna BioCenter page and start a new application.
- Enter your details and field — Provide personal and employment information, choose your main scientific area, and add up to five keywords.
- Add publications and referees — Supply the DOI of at least one first-author publication or preprint and contact details for two referees, who are emailed automatically.
- Attach your documents — Upload your CV, transcripts and certificates, a five-page project proposal, a one-page public summary, and a support letter from your chosen group leader.
- Submit before the deadline — Ensure at least one reference letter is uploaded, then submit; shortlisted applicants are invited to an on-site interview.
Eligibility
QualificationA PhD in life sciences or a related field such as physics, engineering, chemistry, computer science, or mathematics.
PublicationsAt least one first-author publication, or a manuscript posted on bioRxiv or arXiv.
Mobility ruleUnder the Marie Curie rule, applicants must not have resided or worked in Austria for more than 12 months in the three years before the call deadline.
Project fitThe proposed project must align with on-campus research, naming one or more potential host groups; interdisciplinary projects are encouraged.
LanguageProficiency in English is required.
Candidates are advised to contact their preferred mentor(s) before and while developing the research proposal; the secondary mentor may be drawn from the institutes, biotech sector, or alumni network.
Eligible countries
All countries (open worldwide)
Deadlines
2026/2027 call15 June 2026 (est.)
Selection
VIP2 selects researchers whose projects can develop into independent research lines and serve as a step toward an independent career. Applications are reviewed for scientific merit and fit with campus research, and shortlisted candidates are invited to an on-site interview before final selection.
Verified sources
- Vienna BioCenter VIP2 — official pageviennabiocenter.orgofficial
About the provider
The Vienna BioCenter is a life-sciences research campus in Vienna, Austria, that combines several research institutes, university departments, and a surrounding biotech cluster, hosting thousands of researchers from across the world working in molecular and cell biology.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What is the Vienna International Postdoctoral Program (VIP2)?
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It is a three-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Vienna BioCenter in Austria, open to international researchers in the life sciences and related fields.
How much does VIP2 pay?
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Fellows receive a gross annual salary of €70,040, paid in 14 installments including a Christmas and a holiday bonus under Austrian law.
How long is the fellowship?
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The fellowship runs for three years.
Who is eligible to apply?
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Researchers of any nationality who hold a PhD in life sciences or a related field and have at least one first-author publication or a preprint.
What is the mobility requirement?
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Under the Marie Curie rule, applicants must not have spent more than 12 months in Austria during the three years before the call deadline.
Is there family support?
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Yes. Family allowance of about ~€110 to €170 (est.) per month per child is provided, depending on the child's age.
What is the two-mentor scheme?
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Fellows choose a primary host group and academic mentor plus a secondary mentor from the institutes, biotech sector, or alumni network.
What documents are required?
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A CV, transcripts, a five-page project proposal, a one-page public summary, a group-leader support letter, and two reference letters.
Where will I be based?
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At the Vienna BioCenter campus in Vienna, Austria.
When is the application deadline?
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The call typically closes on 15 June; confirm the exact 2026 date on the official Vienna BioCenter VIP2 page.
Is health insurance included?
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Yes. Full health insurance plus pension and accident contributions are provided throughout the fellowship.
Is there an interview?
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Yes. Shortlisted applicants are invited to an on-site interview as part of the selection process.