VRG26 / Key Facts

Scope

This call is open to all topics and areas in Environmental Systems Research, and researchers from all disciplines (e.g., natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, health sciences, climate research ...) are welcome. The future Vienna Research Group is expected to develop a distinctive research profile that tackles fundamental and interdisciplinary questions in environmental research using cutting-edge methodologies. Their research should aim to significantly expand current knowledge and have the direct potential to contribute to meaningful societal advancements. Research that extends beyond academia and aims to build strong collaborations with non-academic partners is strongly encouraged.

Who can apply?

VRG candidates are researchers in their early post-doc phase, who apply together with an established scientist from a Viennese university or research institution.

• 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.

Project duration

A Vienna Research Group typically runs 5-8 years.

Funding

There are € 5.4 million reserved for this call. The max. budget per research group is € 1.8 million.

Timeline

• Submission deadline: March 10, 2026, 14:00 CET
• Prep I decision: mid of April 2026
• Prep II decision: end of July 2026
• Hearings: 24 and 25 September 2026 (candidates participate online)

Process

• Submission of a full proposal until the deadline stated above via the WWTF Funding Portal
• In case you are invited for participation in the hearing, the participation is mandatory to be considered for funding.
• You can find the recording of the info session for this call on our website.