Marie-Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Vienna
What is a MSCA-PF?
The Marie-Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) is a post-doctoral research and training programme in which the post-doc (fellow) gains additional skills and abilities working on a specific research project in a new environment, while also transferring their knowledge within their new institution. Open to all fields of research, the fellowship is a well-defined, 2-year-career stage.
For official information about the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (basic details, Guidelines, etc) please see Funding & tenders (europa.eu).
Why apply for a MSCA-PF @ the University of Vienna?
The University of Vienna provides extensive support to MSCA-PF candidates with the necessary profile to become world-class researchers at the top-rated University in Austria.
Over the past three years, the University has had extremely positive results in the MSCA Fellowship calls. 17 MSCA fellowships were awarded to the University in the 2020 call, and 23 in the 2021 call, the highest number ever awarded to the University in a single call. The success rate for University of Vienna applicants in the 2021 call was almost 30%, compared to the average of 13.8%. %. And in the 2022 call, compared to the EU success rate of 17.5%, the success rate for applicants with the University of Vienna was 27.45%. Fourteen fellowships were awarded in 2022, with 11 high scoring applications placed on the reserve list.
Expression of Interest (EoI)
The University of Vienna will return to running an Expression of Interest (EoI) for the 2023 call. Through the EoI, potential fellows will identify a supervisor who can guide them in the next stage of their research career and take advantage of the support services offered at the University to help them prepare a successful proposal. Instructions on how to complete your EoI are available under EoI Application Process & Deadlines.
Advantages of applying for a MSCA-PF @ the University of Vienna
- We are the largest teaching and research institution in Austria.
- There are 15 faculties, 5 centres, 24 research platforms devoted to both basic and applied research.
- We offer state-of-the-art facilities, extensive research infrastructure and the oldest library in the German speaking world.
- Post-doc salaries are based on the Collective Bargaining Agreement for University Staff and paid 14 times per year.
- The University offers flexible working hours (based on core hours), childcare and language learning facilities.
- The University currently ranks 11th among the most international universities in the world and is the top-ranked Austrian University in the 2022 World University Rankings.
- Vienna is consistently rated as one of the best cities to live in and has topped the Mercer Quality of Life Ranking for 10 straight years.
- The University and Research Services Department have extensive experience with MSCA Fellowships as we host the highest number of Fellows in Austria. Successful applicants will receive support from the Research Services Department during proposal preparation including guidance documents, personalised feedback and in-depth proposal checks.
- As a result of the three previous Programmes, 17 MSCA fellowships were awarded to the University in the 2020 call, and 23 in the 2021 call, with a record success rate of 23% in the 2021 call. In 2022, 14 fellowships were awarded, and the success rate for the University (27.45%) was about 10% higher than the EU average.
- Extra Funding for a 3rd Year: The 10 top-ranked MSCA European Postdoctoral Fellowships awarded to the University (based on the score given by the European Commission) will receive an additional third year of salary, allowing the fellow and supervisor to carry out additional research, publication, training or grant writing. As this third year is funded separately by the University, the activities should be related to, but distinct from what will be carried out during the first two years of the project.
How to apply?
- Submit you application before the deadline: 4 May 2023 @ 17:00 CET.
- See EoI Application Process & Deadlines for complete details.
*Please note that applying with an EoI at the University of Vienna is an additional process and is not part of the official application with the European Commission.