CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Director-General Positions at HUN-REN Research Institutions

HUN-REN – the Hungarian Research Network is Hungary’s flagship national research organisation and a central pillar of its research and innovation ecosystem.

HUN-REN is launching an open international selection process for Director-General positions at selected research institutions within the Network, as part of its strategic renewal and regular leadership rotation.

In the first round, HUN-REN invites expressions of interest for Director-General positions at:

• HUN-REN Biological Research Centre (Szeged, Hungary)
• HUN-REN Institute for Nuclear Research (Debrecen, Hungary)
• HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics (Budapest, Hungary)
• HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science (Sopron, Hungary)

Further calls (second and third rounds) for additional research institutions will be launched in the first half of 2026 (see below).

About HUN-REN

HUN-REN comprises 15 Hungarian national research institutions with more than 5,000 employees, including approximately 3,400 researchers, working across a wide range of disciplines in STEM, life sciences, and frontier research.

Its mission is to deliver world-class scientific excellence that expands the frontiers of knowledge, generates scientific breakthroughs with global impact, and contributes to innovation-driven economic growth.

Recognising that scientific discovery transcends geographical borders, HUN-REN is committed to advancing knowledge for the benefit of humanity while reinforcing Hungary’s role as a dynamic contributor to the global research ecosystem.

The Role of Director-General

Director-Generals play a central role in providing strategic leadership, institutional transformation, and scientific direction. They are entrusted with strengthening their institutions as internationally recognised centres of research excellence.

In this role, they will:

• Shape long-term strategy and institutional development
• Work in close collaboration with HUN-REN leadership
• Enhance scientific excellence and international visibility
• Strengthen institutional impact within national and global ecosystems

Key Responsibilities

• Define and launch ambitious new research directions aligned with global scientific frontiers
• Lead organisational renewal and strengthen governance and operational effectiveness
• Build and nurture world-class research teams and attract outstanding international talent
• Support the development of early-career researchers
• Foster grant activity and collaboration with academic and industrial partners
• Expand global scientific partnerships
• Develop advanced research infrastructure and capabilities
• Deliver measurable scientific and innovation outcomes contributing to discovery and societal impact

These roles require visionary scientific leadership, the ability to drive institutional transformation, and a strong commitment to building internationally competitive research environments.

Opportunity

These leadership roles offer an exceptional opportunity for internationally recognised scientific leaders to play a defining role at the helm of Hungary’s leading research institutions and to shape their future development as globally competitive centres of excellence.

HUN-REN welcomes expressions of interest from outstanding candidates from the global scientific community committed to advancing scientific discovery, institutional excellence, and international collaboration.

Application Information

• Application deadline (first round): 31 May 2026
• Detailed application information is available via the official call

Upcoming Calls (Second and Third Rounds)

To be published in May 2026:

• HUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute (Budapest)
• HUN-REN Institute of Experimental Medicine (Budapest)
• HUN-REN Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics (Budapest)
• HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences (Budapest)

To be published in June 2026:

• HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research (Martonvásár)
• HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute (Tihany)
• HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences (Budapest)
• HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research (Budapest)
• HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research (Budapest)