Vienna Doctoral School of Microbiology and Environmental Science - Doctoral Positions (AUTUMN CALL 2026) Universität Wien

Job description:

The University of Vienna is a community of almost 11,000 individuals, including approximately 7,700 academic staff members, who passionately pursue answers to the profound questions that shape our future. Fuelled by curiosity and a deep sense of responsibility, they provide invaluable contributions to research and teaching, thus enriching our society. Are you also inspired and driven by the desire to make a meaningful impact?

The University of Vienna invites outstanding candidates to apply for mulitple doctoral positions in the Vienna Doctoral School of Microbiology and Environmental Science as part of its Autumn Call 2026, offering multiple funded doctoral positions in total.

Your personal sphere of influence:

You will join ActiveSOIL, an international project funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, dedicated to harnessing biology for climate-resilient and healthy soils. Based at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS) at the University of Vienna, you’ll work alongside partners in Aalborg (DK), Oxford (UK) and Berkeley (USA) to answer a fundamental question: how fast do microorganisms cycle nutrients in soil and which microbes drive it?

Your future tasks:

You will measure gross soil process rates, from depolymerisation to mineralisation, and link them to microbial identity, community composition and ultimately soil health, by combining stable isotope pool dilution assays with measurements of microbial community activity, generating the process-rate data that sits at the heart of the project. The work spans both demanding lab and field campaigns, giving you hands-on ownership of the full pipeline from sample collection to data interpretation.

This is part of your personality:

You bring a background in soil science, microbial ecology, or biogeochemistry, and a MSc degree in a related field, paired with genuine enthusiasm for rigorous, hands-on lab and field work.” Prior experience with isotope pool dilution assays, mass spectrometry, or microbial growth measurements is a plus but not a must-have, as you will be trained in these methods. What matters most is curiosity, resilience under demanding fieldwork conditions, a collaborative mindset for working across an international team, and a commitment to communicating your research through publications.

What we offer:

The successful candidate will be embedded in the Soil Ecology Group of Andreas Richter (https://ter.univie.ac.at/richter) at CeMESS, an internationally renowned centre in microbial ecology, soil ecology, and ecosystem science. The Centre offers a diverse and stimulating work environment. The PhD candidate will be enrolled in the Doctoral School in Microbiology and Environmental Science, which offers interdisciplinary training at the interfaces of microbiology, ecology and environmental science. The candidate will work at the forefront of soil health research, at the intersection of soil ecology and microbial biogeochemistry.

Excellence in research: Join one of Europe’s leading universities with internationally recognised scholars.Vibrant research environment: Engage with top research groups, archives, libraries, and crossdisciplinary centres—supported by seminar series, colloquia, and visiting fellows.Structured doctoral training: Benefit from close supervision and gain access to high-quality methods workshops, transferable skills development, and opportunities to present your work and receive expert feedback.Fair salary: A basic gross salary of EUR 3.714,80 (on a 40h/week basis) per month, 14 times a year.Model 2: The employment duration is 4 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 4 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first12 months by submitting a non-extension declaration.International networks: Connect to a global community and collaborative projects that encourage mobility and knowledge exchange.Inclusive culture: We foster equal opportunity, diversity, and a collegial environment where talent thrives.

It is that easy to apply (in English):

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete application through the job portal of the University of Vienna (apply now-button).

Complete applications include the following:

• Personal information and contact details
• Information on education, training, and professional experience
• Motivation statement
• Curriculum vitae
• Cover letter
• Master Degree / Diploma

Application deadline: 15 October 2026, 14 am CETIf you have any questions, please refer to the FAQs on the call website.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call +43-1-4277-18248 or email phdcareers@univie.ac.at with their request.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Nadja Holzleitner

vds-mes.cemess@univie.ac.at

We look forward to new personalities in our team!The University of Vienna has an anti-discriminatory employment policy and attaches great importance to equal opportunities, the advancement of women and diversity. We place particular emphasis on enhancing women’s representation among the academic and general university staff, particularly in leadership roles, and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.

University of Vienna. Space for personalities. Since 1365.

Application deadline: 10/15/2026

Apply now