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Funding for Post Docs

Start preparing your PostDoc-phase during your doctorate:
- Dissemination (international conferences & international publications)
- Professional (international) networks
- Research experience abroad
- Look for (external) funding opportunities for the postdoctoral phase:
 

Project funding:

  • WU Projects(WU internal): generating publishable research findings through an independently conducted project. WU Projects are intended to fill the niche not covered by the calls for applications issued by the major national funding bodies (OeNB and FWF). WU Projects should lead to further third party-funded projects.Max. funding amount: € 25,000 (min. € 10,000)

  • FWF Principal Investigator Projects: gives researchers the opportunity to carry out thematically clearly defined research projects limited to a specific duration and to devote themselves to investigating individual research questions.

  • Anniversary Fund of OeNB: strategic focus on promoting basic research projects aimed at advancing the state of research on central banking topics, with a special emphasis on selected focus areas; deadline: twice a year (March and October)

  • Post Doc Track (ÖAW): these fellowships are intended to support holders of a doctorate or PhD in the humanities, social and cultural sciences who are pursuing an academic career in the transition phase immediately after completing their doctorate. In particular, the aim is to support: the completion of publications resulting from a doctoral thesis, the development of an applicant’s own research project for applying to national or international funding bodies, the establishment of (international) networks and cooperations in connection with one or both of the above-mentioned goals.

  • ESPRIT (FWF): for highly qualified post docs of all disciplines at the beginning of their scientific career who are conducting an independent research project at an Austrian research institution (mentor), 50% reserved for women; doctorate max. 5 years ago. Funding: salary for project leader + € 45,000 to € 75,000 project-specific costs

  • ERC Starting Grant: The ERC Starting Grant supports scientists at an early stage of their career who want to conduct ground-breaking research in Europe as Principal Investigators (project leaders). For researchers whose doctorate was completed 2-7 years ago on January 1 of the year of the call (according to the ERC work program). 

Project funding for advanced post docs:

  • ASTRA (FWF): The highly endowed FWF-ASTRA awards offer outstanding researchers the framework conditions to carry out long-term research projects at a top international level, consolidate their own research profile and thus qualify for a leading academic position. Funding: at least €500,000 up to a maximum of €1 million for five years.

  • ERC Consolidator Grant: ERC Consolidator Grants support excellent researchers at an early or mid-career stage in consolidating their scientific independence. This is often done by expanding their own research group. For researchers whose doctorate was completed 7-12 years ago on January 1 of the year of the call (according to the ERC work program). 

Mobility funding:

  • WU International Research Fellow (WU-internal): With this program, WU finances a stay at an international research institution, giving WU International Research Fellows the opportunity to continue or complete ongoing projects and to engage in networking activities with experts in their field of research. Funding: max. amount EUR 4,000 per person/application for: travel costs, accomodation, visa costs, public transportation

  • Post Doc Research Contract (WU-intern): The goal of these contracts, in the form of a sabbatical or semester-long leave of absence, is to strengthen the grant recipient’s academic career by giving them more time for their actual research work and to help researchers create and strengthen international networks. Funding: for replacement teaching personnel, travel and living expenses

  • MAX KADE (ÖAW, Max Kade Foundation): This programme supports scholars from all research disciplines who wish to visit the USA for research purposes. Applications for a MAX KADE fellowship are open to highly qualified scholars who have completed their doctoral studies within the last 10 years and can demonstrate research experience in scholarly publications.Funding: fellowship + travel costs + Additional travel expenses and allowances for partners and children

  • JESH – Joint Excellence in Science and Humanities (ÖAW): for early career researchers with a maximum of 10 years of research experience following completion of their doctorate/PhD who are affiliated with a university or non-university research institution in one of the target countries or Austria. Funding: travel, accommodation and living expenses, duration: 1- 6 months

  • Erwin Schrödinger-Stipendium (FWF): Giving junior researchers the opportunity to work on projects at research institutions abroad, gaining valuable international experience in the postdoc phase (strengthening career prospects). Funding: variable basic fellowship for principal investigators (fellowship rates depend on country) + project specific costs depending on the duration of the return phase (maximum €15,000) 

  • Fulbright Grants for Teaching, Research, Career Development, or Institutional Collaboration: Allows highly qualified Austrian academics (PhD) to visit US host institutions. Funding: $ 4,000 per month + Travel and relocation allowance of € 1,500 + visa. Duration: 3-4 months

  • Marie-Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF)(EU – Horizon Europe): The objective of PFs is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.

    • Duration: European Postdoctoral Fellowships: 12-24 months in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country

    • Global Postdoctoral Fellowships: 12-24 months in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country

  • WU-OeNB-Internationalization Grant: Additional funding for longer-term research stays abroad (3-12 months, e.g. research semesters). Desirable: Research projects that are in line with the strategy and mission statement of the OeNB or the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and deal with current social and economic policy developments. Funding: max. € 15,000 per stay abroad (travel expenses, accommodation/stay costs)

Habilitation funding

  • APART-GSK (ÖAW): for post-docs from Austria and abroad up to a maximum of three years after the doctorate, partial stay abroad also possible; funding is intended to help prepare the next major career step (“2nd book” or habilitation). Funding: Scholarship + travel/material costs

  • Dr.-Maria-Schaumayer-Habilitationsstipendium (WU-intern): Funding for female academics at WU Vienna who are working on a habilitation at WU. Habilitation projects must be thematically in line with the strategy and mission statement of the OeNB or the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and deal with current social and economic policy developments. Funding: Leave of absence with remuneration + € 70,000 for the habilitation project (e.g. substitute teaching, contracts for work, material costs, travel expenses). Duration: 12 months, deadline: 31.05. of each year, start of scholarship: exclusively 01.07. of the following year

Publication funding

  • WU Open Access Publication Funds: If you would like to publish your results as a book, or in a journal that is not included in one of WU’s agreements with publishers, WU has established two publication funds to help.

  • Open access publications and FWF-funded projects: As of January 1, 2024, funding for open access publications resulting from FWF (Austrian Science Fund) projects will be handled by the WU Open Access Office. You no longer need to contact the FWF with these questions. This regulation applies to all WU-FWF projects approved after December 31, 2020. More information here.

  • WU Revision Funds: In order to support WU researchers with requirements in the course of the publication process, a financial grant for necessary revisions (e.g. data collection, copy editing or data visualization) is provided as part of the "Revision Funds".