Description
The Ignaz Semmelweis Institute (https://semmelweisinstitute.ac.at/) seeks applicants to fill five group leader
positions. The Institute’s focus is basic and translational research in infectious disease and infection biology
as well as pandemic preparedness. Applicants should have a PhD or MD/PhD degree or equivalent and
postdoctoral experience with a strong publication track record. Applications are open to all fields within
infectious disease research. However, special consideration is given to candidates from the following fields
which would complement the expertise of our current team of principal investigators: mRNA and LNP
technology, B-cell biology, antibody engineering, structural biology, mucosal immunology, innate immunity
and adjuvant design, animal- and human-derived 3D tissue modelling, stem cell biology (animal-/humanderived
tissues), micro-physiological systems (MPS), organ-on-chip, zoonotic diseases, drug/vaccine testing
and validation for zoonotic diseases, machine learning in infectious disease research and epidemiology and
modelling.
The positions come with generous startup funding and a competitive salary. Group leader positions are
funded for five years. The expectations for group leaders are to establish their laboratories and their own
line of innovative research within this period of time, apply and win independent funding, publish high impact
research and contribute to the growth and development of the Ignaz Semmelweis Institute. The Ignaz
Semmelweis Institute is an interuniversity institute involving the Medical University of Vienna, the Medical
University of Graz, the Medical University of Innsbruck, the Johannes Kepler University Linz and the
University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. Group leaders will be employed by one of the five universities, but
the main location will be at the campus of the Medical University of Vienna.
The Ignaz Semmelweis Institute offers an inspiring academic environment, excellent infrastructure (with
access to all facilities of the partner universities) and mentoring for young researchers. The official language
of the institute is English.
The city of Vienna (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna) is an excellent place to work and live. It is in the
centre of Europe, can easily be reached via the Vienna International Airport and has been consistently
ranked as one of the most liveable cities globally (ranked number 1 in many rankings). Vienna also offers
affordable housing, rich culture, an open society in a stable democracy, a low crime rate, excellent public
transport, many green spaces and is an excellent environment for raising children with affordable and
available childcare and a free and excellent public education system.
The application deadline is January 31st 2026. After a first round of screening, we plan to invite 15 applicants
for in person interviews to Vienna in the Spring of 2026. The expectation is, that successful candidates will
settle into their new positions by the end of the third quarter of 2026.
Applications including a CV, publication list, a research statement (5 pages max, should describe two
projects that the applicant is planning to develop), a teaching statement and a statement about public and
professional services should be included and send by the deadline to recruiting@semmelweisinstitute.ac.at.
