Become a Starting Principal Investigator at CeMM, Vienna (all genders)

Vienna, Austria

2026-04-24 (Europe/Vienna)

Research Area: Pain and Human Aging/Healthy Lifespan Expansion

CeMM, the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences is an international top research institute performing highly cooperative frontier research in molecular medicine. At CeMM, an international and creative team of scientists and medical doctors pursues curiosity-driven basic life science research in a large and vibrant hospital environment with an outstanding medical tradition and practice.

We are currently recruiting two exceptionally innovative, creative, ambitious early-career scientists to join CeMM as Starting Principal Investigators within a new research program on pain and aging/healthy lifespan expansion. Join our highly committed CeMM Faculty consisting of 20 research group leaders contributing to the medicine of the future.

• Are you fascinated by the biology of aging and looking for a place where intellectual rigor and curiosity are matched by innovative multidisciplinary approaches?
• Do you want to join a highly collaborative CeMM Faculty of international colleagues who actively support each other’s scientific success?
• Do you want to power-up your medically-oriented research with cutting-edge technologies?
• Do you want to translate your findings to impact human health and medical practice?

The Institute

At CeMM, in a light-filled building full of interdisciplinary scientists from all over the world, with state- of-the-art equipment and inspiring art rooms, you and your group will have access to the expertise and tools of all members, leading to a degree of collaborative papers that is much higher than peer institutions and is oriented towards quality over quantity. CeMM’s five principles are: create innovative technology; explore biological roots of disease; push opportunities into medical application; empower talents; and multiply impact by sharing. You will be assisted in formulating your most competitive ERC grant ideas and helped with the application. The vigorous, strong partnership with the Medical University of Vienna, and the location in the middle of one of the world’s largest hospital, AKH Wien, is a unique asset. Vienna has been ranked several times worldwide #1 city in terms of quality of life. CeMM is also a member of EU-LIFE, an alliance of 17 top research centers in life sciences to support and strengthen European research excellence, and a sister institute of AITHYRA, the new Research Institute for Biomedical Artificial Intelligence of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna.www.cemm.oeaw.ac.at

The Research Area

In modern society, increased lifespan is not always matched by prolonged health and well-being. CeMM is launching a new interdisciplinary research area (PAIN-AGING) focusing on understanding the biological mechanisms that determine healthy aging and chronic pain for prevention and targeting of several non-communicable disorders  associated  with  unhealthy  ageing,  such as neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and cardiometabolic disorders. PAIN-AGING addresses how factors such as biologic aging, metaflammation, viral infection, microbiota composition, and pain signaling pathways interact to promote unhealthy aging and reveal targets for intervention. At CeMM, we propose a completely fresh look with great intellectual rigor matched with unconventional perspectives. Two new hires on the subject PAIN and AGING will join a faculty already exploring key areas including, epigenetic regulation, microbiota biology, metabolism, genomic integrity, inflammation, innovative pharmacology, patient-derived organoids and more.

Whom we are looking for

We are looking for MD and/or PhD scientists with an exceptional track record in pain, neurosciences, immunology, or related fields. Applicants should be ready to establish their first independent research group and pursue innovative research closely connected to clinical questions. Required are scientific quality and originality, a successful track record of scientific achievements and innovative approaches to study human pathophysiology. Inclination for leadership, a knack for creativity, an irrepressible curiosity, a collaborative and interdisciplinary mindset, as well as willingness to exercise kindness as collaborative research-supportive behavior are important ingredients to complete our new faculty member’s profile.

Moreover, you are

• actively contribute to our international CeMM PhD and Pre-ERC PostDoc Programs (from the common selection to supervision of students and postdocs)
• fully committed to actively participate in regular Faculty meetings, and our weekly institute-wide scientific seminars
• fully committed to bridging fundamental research with clinical impact
• a team-player who enjoys working across disciplines and within a broader cultural and social context

We offer

• an initial 5-years contract with mid-term review by our CeMM Scientific Advisory Board
• a starting package including a fully equipped laboratory, your Principal Investigator salary, 1 PhD Student, 1 Research Technician, an additional budget of € 20.000/year for consumables, facility services and travel expenses, and support in the successful securement of extra funds to recruit additional team members
• full institutional support for securing ERC grants and attractive permanent positions; CeMM PIs were able to acquire all sorts of ERC Grants (Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, Synergy, and PoC) within the last 10 years, and several other prestigious and well-funded grants and awards
• the unique opportunity to become part of the CeMM Faculty and join our strong network of committed Faculty members and alumnae/alumni. Benefit from lively scientific exchange, extend your network, collaborate and explore new possibilities – in science and beyond
• a competitive salary and benefits package, including health and pension insurance
• an international, family-friendly working environment with an open and inclusive culture
• access to CeMM facility services (sequencing, proteomics, metabolomics, chemical screening)
• access to top administrative and scientific support (HR and Training, grant service, finance, purchasing, PR, IP and tech transfer, cafeteria, etc.)

CeMM is an equal opportunity employer, and its strong intellectual environment stems from the international nature of its employees. We believe that diversity and different cultural backgrounds are a clear advantage to successful research, collaborations, and the day-to-day business. The official language at CeMM is English, and >45 different nationalities are represented at the institute. CeMM has been work package leader in a H2020 funded gender equality project called LIBRA, has received an HR4Research Award, and harbors a mix of different talents, backgrounds, competences, interests.

Application details

Applications should be written in English and contain

• Curriculum Vitae with full publication list (and ORCID number)
• list of up to 5 most important papers with a short comment on why and what your contribution has been (each max. 100 words)
• funding track record or funding plans
• names and addresses of two references
• summary of research interests and objectives including how you could profit from and interact with the CeMM environment (max. 2 pages)

Please send your application files to application@cemm.at indicating the Reference-Code in the subject line: CeMM PI Pain&Aging

Application Deadline:24 April 2026

Tentative Hearing Date:2-3 June 2026

Potential Starting Date:Autumn 2026