Eligibility of applicants and roles in the project

The general eligibility of applicants is specified in the / WWTF Funding Guideline.

An application is prepared in tandem: the future VRG leader ("VRG candidate") applies together with the proponent, who represents a research institution in Vienna. 

Role & responsibilities of the proponent:

The proponent is an established scientist based at a university or non-profit non-university research institution (public or private) in Vienna (“host institution”) that intends to hire an excellent young researcher from abroad.

The host institution is responsible for the selection of the VRG candidate, for the application process itself, as well as for providing a well-defined career path for the candidate.

Active recruitment procedures are mandatory. The search for the VRG candidate is carried out by the host institution. International publication of the job advertisement – e.g., in a high impact journal that is relevant for the topic and/or via professional societies/mailing lists – is compulsory. For promotional purposes, the host institution may provide the link / a digital copy of the job advertisement to the WWTF, for publication on the WWTF website.

The proponent is responsible for the coordination of the application at the host institution and supporting the candidate at every stage of the application. In case of funding, the proponent is also responsible for the integration of the candidate in the host institution.

Role of the VRG candidate & eligibility criteria:

VRG leaders are young researchers, generally postdocs, who seek to advance their research career by establishing an independent research group and assuming leadership responsibility for several group members. As the aim of the VRG program is to strengthen Vienna as a research location by attracting additional talents who will provide new expertise and input for the Viennese research landscape, VRG leaders must be recruited from an institution outside of Austria. VRG leaders are independent in designing their research work and recruiting staff. Over the years, they are expected to attract additional and increasing third-party funding.

Researchers who can apply for this call are up to eight years after PhD, counting backwards from the submission deadline of this call. Care duties may extend this period by up to four years. At the time of application, VRG candidates must be based at home institutions outside of Austria. Specifically, this means the VRG candidate (i) must not have an employment contract with an Austrian institution in the timeframe between three months before the submission deadline to the submission deadline, and (ii) must have been employed at a foreign research institution for at least two years in the last three years before the submission deadline. WWTF also welcomes applicants with Austrian citizenship who wish to return to Austria. Please note that the aim of the VRG program is to bring new competences to Vienna.

WWTF encourages Vienna-based research institutions to actively search for female candidates. In the case of successful appointment of a woman, the Vienna host institution may apply for additional financial measures from the WWTF to support their gender mainstreaming activities.

WWTF offers a Dual Career Service Support for partners of VRG leaders. Costs for childcare and / or career coaching for female WWTF-funded personnel may be covered under special conditions to a small degree.

Non-university institutions as host institutions of VRG leaders

In the case of non-university institutions as host institutions, academic links to a university partner must be demonstrated in the application (for example, in the form of a signed letter of intent by the university partner), to ensure integration into an academic teaching environment in Vienna. This is to enhance the prospects of a potential future at a university in Vienna.

The following points have to be addressed in the corresponding sections of the proposal:

Guarantee of scientific independence of the VRG leader and guaranteed establishment of own research group of the VRG leader at the host institution.

Permanence of the career track: permanent position at the latest after successful interim evaluation.

Independent supervision of Master students and PhD candidates.

Teaching opportunities.

Additional partners:

Additional research partners (“cooperation partners”) may also be involved in and contribute to the work of the VRG group. If these partners contribute substantially to the VRG project, they are eligible to receive funding from the VRG project. They also may provide resources and funding for the project as in-kind contributions. No industry involvement is required. Industry partners are not eligible for funding. However, they might participate in the project with in-kind contributions, both through financial or further resources.

Partners may be affiliated to institutions in or outside Vienna (including international partners). Partners inside and outside Vienna are optional and not a requirement for application.

Partners outside of Vienna may receive up to 20% of the total requested funding.

Please note: 

“Home institution” refers to the VRG candidate’s institution at the time of application, i.e., the institution outside of Austria to which they are currently affiliated. “Host institution” refers to the VRG candidate’s future host institution in Vienna, i.e., the institution where they seek to carry out the proposed work of the application.