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ISTA-Fellow: Postdoctoral Program

Institute of Science and Technology Austria

The ISTA-Fellow program at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) offers fully funded (two-year) postdoctoral fellowships for highly qualified candidates who have completed or will soon complete their PhD or equivalent in the natural or computer sciences, mathematics or any related discipline.

Please read the guide for applicants before applying.

Benefits of the ISTA-Fellow fellowships

International, Interdisciplinary, and Intersectoral fellowship program
2-year, fully funded postdoctoral position

The closing date for the 2026 Call for Proposals is September 8, 2026.

Funding: ISTA-Fellows receive 2-year, full time employment contracts with an internationally competitive salary (min. 73,500 EUR gross) and full social security coverage.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Outstanding scientific excellence and originality (highest predictor)

This is the most important success factor.

Competitive proposals should demonstrate:

A major scientific question
Original hypotheses
Frontier basic research
Potential for transformative discoveries
High intellectual ambition

ISTA's mission is centered on curiosity-driven basic research, rather than short-term applied outcomes. Projects should therefore aim to substantially advance fundamental knowledge.

2. High-risk, high-gain research (very high predictor)

ISTA strongly encourages ambitious projects that explore new scientific directions.

Competitive projects often involve:

Novel concepts
Unexplored biological or physical mechanisms
Innovative computational approaches
Emerging technologies
Cross-cutting scientific questions

The NOMIS-ISTA Fellowship explicitly highlights support for high-risk concepts and pioneering science.

3. Strong interdisciplinary research (very high and distinctive predictor)

Interdisciplinarity is a defining characteristic of ISTA.

The strongest proposals integrate expertise across fields such as:

Biology and computer science
Physics and mathematics
Neuroscience and engineering
Chemistry and machine learning
Mathematics and biology

For the NOMIS-ISTA Fellowship, the research proposal must span two or more scientific disciplines, with co-supervision by researchers from different fields.

4. Outstanding investigator potential (very high predictor)

ISTA places strong emphasis on the applicant's scientific promise.

Competitive applicants generally demonstrate:

Excellent publication record
Strong doctoral or postdoctoral achievements
Scientific independence
Creativity
Leadership potential

For fellowship programs, scientific excellence relative to career stage is a major consideration.

5. Strong fit with the host research group (very high predictor)

A successful proposal should clearly complement an existing ISTA research group.

Reviewers look for:

Scientific synergy
Complementary expertise
Access to required facilities
Mutual research interests
Clear added value for both applicant and host

The ISTA-Fellow program specifically supports projects that complement the expertise of an existing ISTA research group.

6. Rigorous methodology and feasibility (very high predictor)

Despite encouraging ambitious science, ISTA expects projects to be technically sound.

Competitive proposals should include:

Well-defined objectives
Robust experimental or computational design
Appropriate analytical methods
Realistic milestones
Feasible timelines
Risk-management strategies

Reviewers expect a convincing plan demonstrating that ambitious goals can realistically be achieved.

7. Strong mentorship and research environment (high predictor)

ISTA offers extensive shared research infrastructure and mentorship.

Competitive applications benefit from:

Experienced supervisors
Access to advanced scientific service units
Modern core facilities
Collaborative laboratory environment
Career development support

The NOMIS-ISTA Fellowship emphasizes dual mentorship for interdisciplinary projects.

8. Potential for long-term scientific leadership (high predictor)

ISTA invests in researchers who are likely to become future scientific leaders.

Competitive applicants demonstrate potential to:

Build an independent research program
Obtain ERC or other prestigious grants
Lead interdisciplinary collaborations
Establish an international scientific reputation

ISTA's career-development programs are designed to prepare researchers for independent academic careers.

9. International experience and collaboration (high predictor)

ISTA is an international institute with English as its working language.

Strong applicants often demonstrate:

International mobility
Global collaborations
Cross-institutional research
Experience in diverse research environments

International diversity is considered an important strength of the institute.

10. Strong potential for future competitive funding (high predictor)

ISTA has an exceptional record of success with ERC, FWF, and EU Framework Programme grants.

Competitive projects should demonstrate potential to generate:

ERC Starting or Consolidator Grants
Austrian Science Fund (FWF) grants
Horizon Europe funding
Other international competitive awards

The institute's Grant Office actively supports proposal development and long-term funding strategies.

Specialties

Others

Eligibility Requirements

All research groups at ISTA, except Astrophysics groups, are eligible (see https://ist.ac.at/en/research).
At the date of the respective call deadline, applicants must hold a PhD (or equivalent) or anticipate completing their PhD degree before the start of their fellowship (no later than 15/06/2027). A fellowship contract will not be issued until a copy of the diploma/proof of successful defense is provided.
Researchers already employed at ISTA before September 1, 2026 are not eligible to apply.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Institute of Science and Technology Austria

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Am Campus 1 3400 Klosterneuburg

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