"Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution - Doctoral Positions (STEM CALL 2026)"

The University of Vienna invites outstanding candidates to apply for multiple doctoral positions in the Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution as part of its STEM Call 2026, offering more than 40 funded doctoral positions in total.

Your personal sphere of influence:

The Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution is dedicated to educating students to advance our understanding of the ecology and evolution of extant and ancestral organisms, populations, and communities. In Ecology, the focus is on uncovering the mechanistic and evolutionary drivers of patterns and processes across biological scales, from gene regulation to ecosystem structure and function, including the role of communities in biogeochemical cycles and their adaptive responses to environmental change. In Evolution, we investigate the processes shaping changes in organization and dynamics of organisms, populations, and species at molecular, developmental, morphological, and physiological levels.

Successful candidates will join a structured doctoral programme offering first-class supervision, vibrant research networks, and opportunities to publish, teach, and engage internationally. Candidates can select from a list of various open positions of supervisors in the participating doctoral schools (available on the Call website).

Your future tasks:

• Participation in research projects/research studies
• Dissemination of project results in peer-reviewed publications and presentations at international conferences
• Participation in teaching and independent teaching of courses as defined by the collective agreement
• Supervision of students
• Contribute to the organization of meetings, conferences, symposiums
• Involvement in the department administration
• Strong communication, data presentation and visualization skills
• Ability to work both, independently and collaboratively

This is part of your personality:

You can apply if you are a highly qualified graduate who:

• has completed a Diploma or Master’s degree in a field covered by one of the participating doctoral schools or a closely related discipline;
• demonstrates a strong interest in academic research and in pursuing a PhD at the University of Vienna;
• meets the doctoral admission requirements of the University of Vienna by the start of employment.

What we offer:

Excellence in research: Join one of Europe’s leading universities with internationally recognised scholars.

• Vibrant research environment: Engage with top research groups, archives, libraries, and cross-disciplinary centres—supported by seminar series, colloquia, and visiting fellows.
• Structured doctoral training: Benefit from close supervision and gain access to high-quality methods workshops, transferable skills development, and opportunities to present your work and receive expert feedback.
• Fair salary: A basic gross salary of EUR 3.714,80 (on a 40h/week basis) per month, 14 times a year.
• Model 1: The employment duration is 3 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 3 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a declaration of non extension. With appropriate work progress, an extension to a total maximum of 4 years is possible. OR
• Model 2: The employment duration is 4 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 4 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a non-extension declaration. (For the exact contract duration and for more details check the specific position)
• International networks: Connect to a global community and collaborative projects that encourage mobility and knowledge exchange.
• Inclusive culture: We foster equal opportunity, diversity, and a collegial environment where talent thrives.

174 Research Services and Career Development
Working hours: 30 | Collective bargaining agreement: §48 VwGr. B1 Grundstufe (praedoc)
Reference no.: 5396