VinUniversity Assistant Professorships 2026: Up to $1M Research Support

VinUniversity Assistant Professorships 2026 at a Glance

VAP is designed to recruit early-career researchers who can build independent, internationally visible research programs at VinUniversity. The program is open across disciplines and encourages work with academic, technological, clinical, economic or societal impact.

Who Can Apply?

Current eligibility requires applicants to:

• hold a PhD, MD or equivalent obtained in or after 2020;
• show a strong record of research excellence through publications, awards, recognition or other significant contributions;
• demonstrate the ability to lead independent and collaborative research;
• present an ambitious research vision with potential for academic or societal impact; and
• commit to a full-time faculty appointment at VinUniversity.

Clinician-scientists working in translational or clinical research are specifically encouraged to apply.

Eligible current VinUniversity faculty may also apply if they are below Full Professor rank and joined VinUniversity within the previous 12 months. Existing VinUniversity faculty can apply to VAP only once.

Research Package and Faculty Support

VAP faculty may also compete for external and internal research funding, including opportunities linked to the Vingroup Innovation Foundation and NAFOSTED.

Application Documents

The current call requires:

• a cover letter introducing the applicant and describing the intended contribution to VinUniversity;
• a comprehensive CV with complete publication list, citation information and impact factors, highlighting three significant publications;
• a research statement covering achievements, current work and future direction;
• a research project proposal of no more than five A4 pages; and
• contact details for three external referees.

Incomplete applications are not considered.

Selection Process

VinUniversity states that candidates undergo a rigorous assessment by an international panel of distinguished scholars. Evaluation focuses on research quality, independence, leadership potential and the strength of the proposed research program.

The award is intended for candidates capable of building a sustained faculty research agenda rather than completing a short-term project.

How to Apply

1. Confirm that your PhD, MD or equivalent was awarded in or after 2020.
2. Prepare the five-page research project proposal and supporting research statement.
3. Update the CV, including publication metrics and three highlighted papers.
4. Identify three external referees who know your research well.
5. Complete the official VinUniversity online application.
6. Submit by 15 October 2026.

Other VinUniversity Faculty Recruitment

VAP is separate from VinUniversity’s broader AY2026–27 faculty recruitment. The university is also advertising discipline-specific Assistant, Associate and Full Professor roles, including current searches in Computer Science, AI research, Business and other fields, with some deadlines extending to late December 2026.

Candidates who are outside the VAP degree-year window may still fit these regular faculty searches.

CareerAidHub Applicant Guidance

Use the research package to define a credible program

A large maximum grant is useful only if the proposal shows a realistic plan for people, infrastructure, milestones and output. Avoid inflating the budget simply because the ceiling is high.

Make independence visible

Early-career applicants should separate their future VinUniversity program from doctoral and postdoctoral supervisors. The panel needs to see what intellectual direction will be yours.

Explain why VinUniversity is necessary

Strong applications connect the project to VinUniversity’s research ecosystem, infrastructure, interdisciplinary opportunities or external partnerships rather than using a generic faculty cover letter.

Applicants can also review CareerAidHub’s faculty positions, Faculty Positions, and research jobs.