New visiting professorship strengthens internationalization and cooperation

In June 2026, Med Uni Graz and Fulbright Austria concluded a new cooperation: starting with the 2028/29 academic year, the “Fulbright Austria–Med Uni Graz Visiting Professor” will be announced annually. The aim is to bring outstanding researchers from the United States to Graz for teaching, joint projects, and long-term partnerships. The ceremonial launch took place on June 11 during a Fulbright event at the University of Innsbruck. Representing Med Uni Graz, Heidrun Mörtl (Office for Excellence Development & Internationalization) participated and, together with Fulbright Chair Barbara Weitgruber, completed the final steps.

What the program offers

The visiting professorship is aimed at scholars from the United States who wish to flexibly combine teaching and research. The language of instruction is English. The program is deliberately broad in scope and open to a wide range of topics from foundational and preclinical areas as well as interfaces to clinical application. The focus is on high-quality teaching for master’s and doctoral students and on active participation in research initiatives at Med Uni Graz, ideally including co-supervision, joint projects, and publications.

Added value for Med Uni Graz

This partnership strengthens the university’s internationalization, increases external visibility, and brings fresh momentum to teaching and research. The close integration with University Hospital Graz and the available research infrastructures create excellent conditions for productive visits and sustainable collaboration. At the same time, the program fosters knowledge exchange across disciplines and supports the expansion of international networks.

What stuff can do now

Colleagues who wish to bring a candidate to Graz can already lay the groundwork. First, clarify within your team which teaching and research priorities you want to advance strategically and how a visiting stay can support these goals. Then proactively approach suitable colleagues at U.S. universities, present Med Uni Graz’s strengths and points of connection, and invite them to apply. Jointly outlining potential teaching formats and project ideas increases the persuasiveness of an application and lays the foundation for sustainable cooperation.

Call of applications

The first call is planned for spring 2027 and refers to the 2028/29 academic year. We will share publication details and next steps in due time via Med Uni Graz channels.

Contact

For questions, advice, and internal coordination, the central contact person at Med Uni Graz is:

Heidrun Mörtl

Office for Excellence Development & Internationalization
heidrun.moertl@medunigraz.at

We invite all units to actively seize this opportunity to bring international top talent to Graz—for inspiring teaching, strong research, and long-term partnerships.

Photos: Adrian Almasan | www.adrianalmasan.com