KL Doctoral School - Call for applications - July 2026
Students with a strong interest in Mental Health and Neuroscience or Tumor Biology are invited to apply for the available doctoral positions within the following PhD programmes:
- Mental Health and Neuroscience: Disease Mechanisms – Diagnostics and Therapy – Clinical Neuroscience
- TUMOR BIOLOGY: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Cancer Research
Karl Landsteiner University offers two excellence-oriented PhD programmes with an interdisciplinary focus on biomedical and health sciences. The programmes provide outstanding training opportunities in Mental Health and Neuroscience and Tumor Biology, integrating basic, translational, and clinical research with innovative methodological approaches. PhD candidates develop and conduct independent experimental and empirical research projects while working in an international and collaborative research environment. The programmes aim to equip future scientists with a comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms, diagnostics, and therapeutic strategies, preparing them for successful careers in academia, clinical research, and related fields.
Both PhD programmes are structured around three complementary core research areas that reflect the university's scientific expertise and provide the framework for doctoral training.
Mental Health and Neuroscience
- Disease Mechanisms – Focusing on the neurobiological and neurophysiological foundations of brain disorders and the mechanisms underlying mental health and neurological diseases.
- Diagnostics and Therapy – Investigating innovative approaches to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health disorders through translational and clinical research.
- Clinical Neuroscience – Addressing clinical and applied neuroscience with a focus on understanding, diagnosing, and managing neurological and psychiatric disorders across the lifespan.
Tumor Biology
- Basic Cancer Research – Focusing on the molecular mechanisms of cancer development, including hematological malignancies and solid tumors, as well as interactions between tumors and the immune system.
- Translational Cancer Research – Bridging basic and clinical research through molecular oncology and hematology, medical physics with a particular focus on particle therapy, and radiation oncology.
- Clinical Cancer Research – Addressing cancer diagnostics, treatment, and clinical research across a broad spectrum of tumor entities.
For the general admission requirements please refer to https://www.kl.ac.at/de/studium-und-weiterbildung/doctoral-school/selection-procedures-and-admission-phd-degree
An excellent command of English is indispensable and will be assessed in the evaluation process. An English certificate is not mandatory for application but may be required for selected students.
For enrollment in a PhD programme at Karl Landsteiner University the tuition fee is € 3.500,- per semester for a total of 6 semesters. However, depending on the employment status of the PhD student (e.g., university or third-party funding, clinical specialist in training) a partial or full tuition fee waiver can be granted.
Applications must be received by 31 August 2026! The top candidates will be interviewed in Krems on 25 September 2026. Research will start in October 2026 at the earliest.
Overview of available research projects
I. Mental Health and Neuroscience
- Project A: Positive Psychology and Mental Health (Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Silvia Exenberger-Vanham; Co-Supervisor: Prim. Univ.-Prof. PD Dr. Martin Aigner)
- Project B: Objective smartphone use and teens' well-being (Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. PD Mag. Dr. Stefan Stieger)
- Project C: Phenotyping of α2δ proteins and neurogenic factors in synapse formation and neuronal differentiation (Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Gerald Obermair)
- Project D Developing novel fixation protocols for human cadaver specimens used in neurosurgical training (Supervisor: Prim. Assoc. Prof. PD Christian Dorfer, MBA)
- Project E: Personality at Work (Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Heike Heidemeier)
II. TUMOR BIOLOGY
- Project F: Biomarkers in thoracic surgery and thoracic oncology (Supervisor: OA Clin. Ass. Prof. PD Dr. Bahil Darson Ghanim PhD)
- Project G: Innovative use of particle therapy (Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Piero Fossati MD; Co-Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. PD DI Markus Stock PhD)
- Project H: Clinical Implementation of Particle Therapy for Ventricular Tachycardia (Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. PD DI Markus Stock PhD)
- Project I: Modeling the bone microenvironment of solid and hematologic malignancies (Supervisor: OÄ PD Dr. Sonia Vallet; Co-Supervisor: OA Univ-Prof. PD Mag. DDr. Klaus Podar MBA)
- Project J: Identification of rationally-based treatment combination strategies against bone metastasis in solid cancer. (Supervisor: OÄ PD Dr. Sonia Vallet; Co-Supervisor: OA Univ-Prof. PD Mag. DDr. Klaus Podar MBA)
The detailed project description can be found here.
General information and application
PhD candidates need to fill out the application online in Open Campus and upload the associated attachment to the application.
Applications must be received by 31 August 2026!
Requirements
- Research Field: Neurosciences » Other
- Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
- Languages: English Level: Excellent
- Research Field: Neurosciences » Other
- Years of Research Experience: None
Where to apply
Website: https://www.kl.ac.at/en/kl-doctoral-school-call-applications-july-2026
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