In March 2025, the University of Vienna established the Center for Advanced Studies and appointed its management team. Molecular biologist Michael Wagner will act as spokesperson of the Center. The first call for 20 fellowships in total will be launched in May. The Center will play a significant role in improving the international reputation and visibility of the University of Vienna and aims to strengthen the University's international networks.
"The new Center for Advanced Studies is an excellent opportunity to attract renowned academics and talented early stage researchers to bring their expertise to Vienna. The international fellowship programmes strengthen the international networks of the University and also foster interdisciplinary exchange and innovative research approaches," says Rector Sebastian Schütze.
The management team consists of internationally renowned scientists from the University of Vienna and the Vice-Rector for Research. Molecular biologist Michael Wagner will act as spokesperson of the Center; his colleagues on the management team include chemist Letizia Gonzalez, political scientist Barbara Prainsack and historian Philipp Ther as well as Manuela Baccarini, Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs.
Ten Junior Fellowships and ten Senior Fellowships as well as one Rector's Fellowship are awarded each year. The fellowships run for nine months and require presence in Vienna. Junior Fellowships are intended for young female scientists up to eight years after their doctorate, Senior Fellowships for established academics. The call for applications will be published in May 2025 and the selection will be made by October 2025. The first fellows will then come to Vienna in October 2026.
The long-planned Center for Advanced Studies will further enhance the international reputation and visibility of the University of Vienna, will have a great impact on the entire academic community and will also open up new opportunities for recruiting top academics. In view of the currently dramatically changing conditions for scholarship and research in the US, the University of Vienna is implementing targeted recruitment measures and will also make use of the new Center for Advanced Studies. We are in close coordination at national and European level in order to assume joint responsibility and seize opportunities.
