Summary
The CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, in partnership with the Medical University of Vienna, St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (St. Anna CCRI), and AITHYRA, is recruiting ambitious postdoctoral researchers. This program is designed to prepare researchers for a successful ERC Starting Grant application or equivalent, fostering independent research careers through top-tier scientific training, leadership development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Postdoc Program (Vienna, Austria) – Pre-ERC Postdoc Program, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
Job Overview
| Field | Details |
| Designation | Pre-ERC Postdoc (m/f/d) |
| Position Type | Full-time employee |
| Duration | 3 to 6 years |
| Location | Vienna, Austria |
| Salary | €5,014.30 gross monthly (following FWF recommendations), paid 14 times per year |
| Benefits | Full health, accident, and pension insurance; relocation support and one-off moving payment |
| Start Date | February 1, 2027 |
| Application Deadline | August 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM CET |
Research Areas & Potential Projects
AI-driven bioengineering, cancer epigenetics, immunotheromics, and structural tissue biology to unravel disease mechanisms and advance modern therapeutics.
Selected candidates will join research groups across various specialized disciplines:
- AI-Powered Research Agents & Cell Engineering: AI models for bioinformatics, single-cell/spatial data, CAR T cell engineering for solid tumors (Bock Lab).
- Pediatric Cancer & Epigenetics: Biomolecular condensates, chromatin regulation, and ribosome-mediated post-transcriptional mechanisms in pediatric cancers (Grebien Lab, Tomazou Lab, Taschner-Mandl Lab, Kameneva Lab).
- Multiscale Tissue Remodeling & Aging: Machine learning foundation models of human tissue architecture during aging (Rendeiro Lab).
- Chromatin & Enhancers in Pediatric Leukemia: Functional logic of DNA regulatory sequences and chromatin-modifying complexes (Seruggia Lab).
- Computational Transportome & Drug Discovery: AI integration of transporter biology and cellular metabolism (Superti-Furga Lab).
- PIDDosome in Aging-Related Diseases: Cell biology and genetic models to analyze PIDDosome dynamics in aging (Villunger Lab).
Qualification & Eligibility Criteria
- Degree: Candidates must hold a PhD (natural sciences) or MD (medical sciences), or have it awarded prior to starting the program.
- Recency: PhD defense must have taken place no earlier than 2024.
- Publications: Must have at least one first-author publication published by the start of the postdoc.
- Profile: Strong motivation, collaborative and interdisciplinary mindset, with international research experience and enhanced potential to secure future ERC funding.
Job Description & Responsibilities
- Conduct innovative, frontier biomedical research in target areas including cancer, immunology, aging, chemical biology, genomic medicine, and drug discovery.
- Engage in cross-disciplinary projects bridging biology with medicine, computational analyses with laboratory experimentation, and basic discovery with translational applications.
- Participate in dedicated training programs covering project management, scientific writing, visual communication, entrepreneurship, leadership, and data science.
- Receive specialized coaching to prepare competitive applications for ERC Starting Grants.
- Collaborate closely with clinical researchers at the Medical University of Vienna and St. Anna Children’s Hospital, as well as industry partners in biotech and pharma.
How to Apply
- Online Portal: Submit your application directly via the CeMM Online Application Portal.
- Required Documents:
- Cover Letter: Short summary of research interests highlighting preferred research group(s) at CeMM or St. Anna CCRI.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Academic Transcripts
- Contact Details of 3 Referees
- Video Recording: Short video explaining your motivation to join the program.
- Information Event (Optional): Join the online Postdoc Open Day Info Session on August 18, 2026 (10:00 AM & 5:00 PM CET) to meet current postdocs and learn more about the program.
Last Date to Apply
Application Deadline: August 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM CET
Shortlisted candidates will participate in online panel interviews in October 2026.
