International PhD Programme in Molecular Life Sciences

Vienna BioCenter (VBC) PhD Programme

Empowering Curious Researchers
…at a leading Life Science location in the heart of Europe

The Vienna BioCenter is a leading life science location in Europe: a thriving campus that combines basic research, universities and biotech companies. Our programme has been successfully running since 1993, providing students from all over the world with exceptional training. As a student at the VBC you will be supervised by top scientists and have full access to state-of-the-art facilities, thus giving you the opportunity to launch a successful scientific career. English is the working language in all the institutes.

The VBC campus is highly multidisciplinary with research areas ranging from molecules to populations: Biochemistry and Structural Biology; Cell and Chromosome Biology; Computational and Systems Biology; Molecular Medicine; Neurobiology; Plant Biology; RNA Biology, Gene Regulation and Epigenetics; Stems Cells and Developmental Biology. Importantly the scientific environment is extremely dynamic and collaborative, you will have numerous opportunities to meet, talk, listen and collaborate with fellow scientists. The programme offers a flexible curriculum structure with an initial training course, lectures on scientific topics as well as technical and complementary skills training. Moreover, students contribute to the management of the institutes, through representatives, and organize events that promote networking and career development, such as an annual retreat and a symposium.

Not only will you be in one of Europe’s best institutes, you will live in Vienna, which is rated as the number one city in the world for quality of life. Vienna is a fun, young city embedded in beautiful old buildings, an international metropolis in the heart of Europe.

Four Research Institutes collaborate in creating an exceptional training environment, where researchers have all the necessary resources to conduct meaningful projects: there is virtually no experiment that cannot be done at the VBC.

The VBC PhD Programme is jointly organized by:

Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP): www.imp.ac.at
Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA): www.imba.oeaw.ac.at
Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI): www.gmi.oeaw.ac.at
Max Perutz Labs: www.maxperutzlabs.ac.at

The programme is run in collaboration with the University of Vienna. Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent from a university in a related topic (or you will complete a master’s degree within six months of the application deadline). Successful applicants will be hired on a full employment contract with a competitive salary.

We accept applications twice per year and we usually recruit 15 students per call:

• Winter call – 15 September to 15 November
• Summer call – 1 March to 30 April

For further information check our website:
www.training.vbc.ac.at

International PhD Programme in Molecular Life Sciences

The Vienna BioCenter (VBC) PhD Programme is a research-oriented educational programme that aims to support the scientific training of young graduates. Students learn through original (supervised) research projects; at the end of their studies they will be able to carry out independent research projects. The VBC Programme ensures that its students have protected time, mentorship, core facilities and a vibrant intellectual atmosphere.

The VBC PhD Programme has three main components:

1. Supervised research project.
2. Introductory Course (three weeks), to introduce the research topics and technologies, thus ensuring an effective use of all facilities and promoting networking within the campus community.
3. Flexible curriculum: Lectures and seminar series, workshops, practical courses and journal clubs.

Furthermore VBC PhD students:

• Present a short, formal talk on their PhD research to the VBC scientific community, once a year.
• Have a thesis committee, which meets once a year to discuss the research plan and its progress or any other issues that may arise.
• Contribute to the management of the institutes, through representatives, and organize events that promote networking and career development, such as an annual retreat and a symposium.
• Are encouraged to present their scientific discoveries at international meetings. Most students attend several conferences during their time at the VBC.
• May participate in short-term projects in other labs, allowing them to meet scientists at other research institutions.