Vienna International Postdoctoral Program (VIP2 )

VIP² is a three-year postdoctoral fellowship program at the Vienna BioCenter (VBC) that is open to candidates with backgrounds in biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, engineering, computer science, and bioinformatics. The program operates under a two-mentor scheme whereby fellows select a main research group and academic mentor according to their specific projects and are supported by a second mentor that can be chosen from the VBC research institutes, the VBC biotech sector, our alumni network and beyond. The VIP² program selects people whose projects have the potential to develop into distinct research lines and thus serves as a stepping stone towards an independent career path. Interdisciplinary and inter-lab projects are highly encouraged.

The Vienna BioCenter is an English-speaking campus with outstanding research infrastructure, equal opportunity support including health care benefits, pension contributions and a highly subsidized child-care center.
Beyond offering an outstanding research environment, VIP2 provides a structured training and career development program under the principle "Inform, Inspire, Innovate."
The VIP² structured training program encompasses:
A research culture that fosters scientific excellence and independence

• Effective mentoring and career planning through two-mentor scheme
• Coaching and mentoring by the VIP2 Advisory Board (VAB)
• A broad training program on research-related and transferable skills
• Introduction of a secondment scheme in the postdoctoral training
• Introduction to a diverse network of renowned professionals 

Please note that the next call:
Opens - 1 March 2020
Submission Deadline - 15 June 2020 (2359 CET, Vienna Time)
Questions concerning your application should be directed to the
Post Doc Programme Manager, Dr. Yan Sun (Yan.Sun@imp.ac.at)
!!Corona virus update - we will still proceed with the selection although the format could change due to the emerging situation!!

Eligibility requirements

Scientific excellence and signs of independence are the hallmarks of VIP². We seek talented scientists of all nationalities to conduct ambitious research projects on an international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral campus.

• 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.

Application requirements

Applications can only be submitted via our online portal.  The following information must be provided in the on-line form:

• Personal information: name, contact details, current place of education/employment
• Main scientific area (choose one from the 7 areas at the VBC) and up to 5 keywords
• DOI of at least one first-author publication or manuscript
• Contact details for two referees. The system will send an automatic email to referees with instructions. At least one reference letter has to be uploaded into the system BEFORE the application can be submitted.

The following documents have to be uploaded (ALL 5 documents are required, your application will not be considered if they are not provided):

• CV with details of education, scientific training starting from Bachelor degree, honours, etc.
• PDFs of transcripts and certificates of training 
• A five-page scientific project proposal
• A one-page explanation of the project written for the public, outlining the societal impact
• Written proof (letter or email) from the chosen group leader indicating his/her support for the application. 
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• https://www.training.vbc.ac.at/post-docs/applications/