Are you passionate about unlocking the mysteries of the brain? The newly established Center of Excellence (CoE) “Neuronal Circuits in Health and Disease” is offering up to 20 fully funded PhD positions in Neuroscience across five top-tier Austrian institutions—Medical University of Vienna (MUV), Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI), University of Vienna (UNIVIE), Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), and the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA).
These prestigious fellowships are funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and are open to highly motivated graduates from around the world who aspire to conduct groundbreaking research in neuroscience.
Programs and Research Focus
As a PhD fellow, you’ll join the Excellent Brains PhD Program, a collaborative and interdisciplinary training platform. The core research mission is to investigate GABAergic cells—neuronal cells pivotal to brain function and implicated in disorders such as schizophrenia, epilepsy, and autism.
You’ll benefit from:
- Rotations in up to three laboratories at different CoE institutions
- Specialized courses on GABAergic cell function
- Joint seminars, journal clubs, and workshops
- Access to advanced neurobiological research tools
- Continuous career development and mentoring.
Fellowship Benefits
- Fully funded 4-year PhD position
- Be part of an international, collaborative research community
- Work with cutting-edge facilities in Austria’s top institutions
- Receive guidance from two supervisors and one mentor
- Relocation support for moving to Austria
- Career development programs and soft skills training.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the fellowship, applicants must:
- Hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in neuroscience, biology, genetics, physiology, psychology, medicine, or related fields by October 31, 2025
- Applicants with strong quantitative backgrounds (computer science, physics, AI, etc.) are strongly encouraged to apply
- Provide proof of relevant research experience
- Have high proficiency in English (no official certificate required)
- Submit a completed online application, including academic documents and two referee contacts, one of whom must be the Master’s supervisor.
Note: Non-European Master’s degree holders will be asked for GPA details. Applicants with 4-year First Class Honours Bachelor’s degrees and extensive research experience may also be eligible.
Apply: https://coe.univie.ac.at/?page_id=6
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the CoE PhD Fellowships in Neuroscience 2025 is 30 June 2025