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• candidates are doctoral candidates, meaning they do not already hold a doctoral degree;
• have a relevant medical, dentistry, master’s or equivalent degree, for example in biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, medical imaging, pathology, applied mathematics, physics or another closely related scientific field;
• fulfil the MSCA mobility rule: they must not have lived, worked or studied in Austria for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the call deadline (10 December 2026);
• can be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to a doctoral degree in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country;
• are not already permanently employed by the host institution where the research training will take place;
• applicants may apply before finishing their degree, but the final graduation certificate must be available before employment can start.

1) Applicants must apply online through the recruitment system.
2) Before applying, candidates should choose at least one IGNIDTE doctoral project and complete the ethics self-assessment if applicable.
3) Applicants are kindly asked to name all uploaded files clearly using their last name and the document type, for example: Smith_CV, Smith_MotivationLetter or Smith_ResearchProposal
4) Documents that are not issued in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Official certificates and transcripts may also need to be legalised or apostilled, where applicable.
5) After submission, applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of their application.

Applications will be assessed through a transparent, merit-based and equal-opportunity selection process. After the application deadline (10 December 2026), all applications will first be checked for completeness and eligibility. Eligible applications will then be evaluated by Individual Review Committees according to published evaluation criteria, followed by online interviews (commencing in mid-January) for shortlisted candidates.
Applications are evaluated based on academic qualifications, research experience, motivation and compatibility with the selected project, the 2-page research proposal, English and communication skills, and complementary skills.
Final ranking and selection will be carried out by the Recruiting Committee. Applicants will be informed about the outcome of the selection process (by the end of February), and an appeal procedure will be available.
AI will not be used to screen or evaluate applications. Applicants who use generative AI tools when preparing application documents must disclose which tools were used and how they contributed to the final submission.

The selection process will run from December 2026 to early February 2027, with interviews planned for January and employment expected to start after offers and admission in early February 2027.

We offer an attractive salary which is about 33% higher than most PhD contracts in Austria and benefits package along with excellent working conditions. Doctoral candidates receive support from the HR departments, international offices and student affairs offices at MUI and UIBK, including help with healthcare, accommodation, language courses and family-related support where applicable.
Onboarding @Medical University of Innsbruck

Successful candidates will receive a full-time doctoral employment contract for 3 years which consists of 40 hours per week.

The remuneration for this position starts at € 3.776,10 gross per month according to level B1 of the collective agreement for scientific employees at Austrian universities (§ 49 (3)) plus allowances, if applicable, and attractive social benefits (e.g. health and sports offers, team events, discounts on public transport tickets and meals in the university cafeterias, free public bike use in town).

• What is the MSCA mobility rule?
  Candidates must not have lived/worked/studied in Austria more than 12 months in the 36 months before deadline.
• Can I apply before finishing my degree?
  Applicants may apply before finishing their degree, but the final graduation certificate must be available before the call deadline. In the meantime, we would require an official signed and stamped confirmation letter from your university. This letter should state the degree programme the applicant is currently enrolled in, the expected date of completion/graduation, and, if available, the expected final grade. Please upload this confirmation letter under the “Undergraduate/Master’s degree” section of the application Form.
• Who can I contact for questions?
  Please send your enquiries to phd-ignidte@i-med.ac.at
• Can Austrian citizens apply?
  Yes, if they fulfil all eligibility criteria, including the MSCA mobility rule.
• Does the confirmation email mean I have been accepted?
  No. The confirmation email only confirms receipt of your application. It does not mean that your application has been reviewed or accepted.
• Will there be interviews?
  Yes. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to online interviews as part of the selection process. Interviews are expected to take place online between 18 January 2027 and 31 January 2027. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with the exact date, time and online platform details
• Can I appeal a decision?
  Yes. An appeal procedure will be available. Details will be provided with the decision communication.
• Are secondment partners fixed?
  Secondment partners are tentative and may change depending on project development, candidate profiles, supervisor input and partner availability
• What will be my net Salary?
  Net salary may vary due to many contributing factors. It will be communicated with successful candidates at interview stage.