A postdoctoral position is temporary. In consequence thinking about the next step is an essential part of this journey. Ideally, you should begin your postdoc by reflecting on your research and career plans: Consider wether pursuing an academic career is the right choice, weigh the (personal) costs and benefits, and familiarize yourself with the career opportunities available beyond academia. Here you'll find resources, tools and opportunities to help build your career and empower your transition from academia to other sectors.

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  • Career planning

    Career planning typically starts with a self-assessment, which involves discovering your motivations, needs, interests, values, and skills. Prioritizing these can help you identify potential options and gaps and the direction in which you want to develop.

    We suggest the following tools for completing your self-assessment. Don't forget to check our training offers below to enhance your skills.

    • Free Career Aptitude and Career Assessment Tests. This article by Alison Doyle from April 2024 explains how a career aptitude test can help you narrow down your career choices and pursue a career path that is aligned with your interests, abilities, values and personality. Try out free career tests.
    • Values Card Sort. Identifying your values can help you to focus and prioritise your career planning and development. Think2Perform provides an online version of a values card sort exercise.
    • myIDP and Imagine PhD. Free online career exploration and planning tools for PhD students and postdoctoral scholars. myIDP is tailored to meet the needs of researcher in the sciences, Imagine PhD is for PhD students and postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and social sciences.
    • ResearchComp. A framework that comprises descriptors and learning outcomes for 38 skills across seven thematic categories and four proficiency levels, enabling researchers to assess and improve their skillset. Watch the Empowering Research Careers with Research Comp.
  • Resources to Reflect

    Individual Coaching: The University of Vienna supports postdocs with coaching for their professional development. Book a personal consultation meeting with the Postdoc Career Development to see what measure fits your needs.

    Taking control of your career: doesn't have to be time consuming. For a start you could try out our curated list of tools from Prosper and take a step in the direction of more informed and proactive career choices. Go try out the 5x5 minute career development resources

    Thinking out loud is very powerful - Mentoring is an essential support pillar, especially in career transition phases. A lack of mentoring can have tremendous effects on academic careers. Having more than one mentor can prove beneficial to your development.

    • Postdoc:muv is a female* mentoring programme for early career researchers at the University of Vienna. It connects women* in different career phases and strengthens them for the next steps in their academic careers. Learn how the postdoc:muv program mentees share their experience in this Article for International Women's Day 2025.
    • Peers4Careers is a 9-month accountability program. An accountability partnership is a highly effective tool for setting goals and maintaining motivation with peer and trainer support. It is unique in its format, as it focuses on self-reflection, collaboration, and motivation.

     

    What every Postdoc needs to know... Liz Elvidge joined Imperial College London in 2008 and launched the Postdoc Development Centre in 2009, the first centre of its kind in the UK. We highly recommend this guide to all postdocs who seek to advance in their careers. Find out more about the book.

  • Trainings to equip you for a range of future opportunities

    Time is scarce at this stage of your career, and it's probably not getting any better. Consequently, we curated exclusive career development training offers so you can focus and take the next step. 

    Our offers can be booked on the new career development platform u:rise and it's dedicated community page for postdocs.


    Seminars of the FWF, Haus der Forschung, Sensengasse 1, 1090 Vienna: Contribution towards expenses: 50% of the workshop costs. Employees of the University of Vienna will be reimbursed 50% of the workshop costs by the Research Service Unit upon presentation of evidence of an imminent project application. Information, Dates, Contact, Refund Form

  • Fellowships and Funding

    Securing independent funding: Our colleagues from the Research Services highlighted places for postdocs to explore possibilities for funding and provided a short overview of the Austrian funding landscape. Information & Links
    If you need support, book your appointment here.

    Franziska Seidl funding program: This program supports female scientists at the University of Vienna in completing research projects, finalizing, revising, resubmitting research proposals, and completing publications. Three fixed-term positions (six months each) are offered every six months for female postdoctoral researchers. The program prioritizes positions in those faculties where women are significantly underrepresented. Read the job announcement.

    Marie-Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Vienna: information, eligibility, deadlines and more

    FWF Esprit: Fellowship for incoming postdocs and postdocs at the University of Vienna (until 5 years post PhD). Information, application and events.

    FWF ASTRA Awards: This highly competitive program aims at successful, internationally visible researchers (senior postdocs, R3) from all disciplines. Information, application and events.

    Seminars of the FWF, Haus der Forschung, Sensengasse 1, 1090 Vienna: Contribution towards expenses: 50% of the workshop costs. Employees of the University of Vienna will be reimbursed 50% of the workshop costs by the Research Service Unit upon presentation of evidence of an imminent project application. Information, Dates, Contact, Refund Form

    OeAW Post-Doctrack: Fellowship for holders of a doctorate or PhD in the humanities, social, and cultural sciences to transition to the postdoc phase. Information, application, documents.

    OeAW Apart MINT: Fellowship for the first postdoc phase of researchers in mathematics, natural and life sciences, technical sciences, and medicine. Information, application, documents.

    OeAW Apart GSK: Fellowship for the first postdoc phase of researchers in the humanities and the social and cultural sciences (GSK). Information, application, documents.

  • Postdoc Mobility

    Mobility and Care Fonds: Female academic staff (pre- and postdoc) at the University of Vienna can apply for a fund to cover additional childcare costs incurred as a result of a mobility stay. Application and Info.

    Circle U. Mobility: The European University Alliance Circle U. recently launched its first mobility schemes for young academics. The postdoctoral mobility fellowships are aimed at researchers who wish to continue their scientific or academic career at another Circle U. university. The fellowships enable researchers to meet their potential next research group through a research stay. Will open again for Applications in April, 2025. Info

    FWF Erwin Schrödinger: The Austrian Science Funds program for postdoc mobility that enhances stays at internationally renowned research institutions and provides with support after the return. Information, application and events.

    OeAW Max Kade: The Austrian Academy of Sciences outgoing program for research visits to the USA. Information, application, documents.