The ISTA-Fellow Postdoctoral Program is a prestigious fully funded research opportunity at Austria’s leading scientific institution – the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). This competitive program offers 2-3 years of funded research in cutting-edge scientific fields with €65,000+ annual salary, designed for exceptional PhD graduates worldwide.
This guide provides complete details about the program benefits, eligibility criteria, application process, and deadlines to help you secure this prestigious fellowship.
Program Overview
📋 Key Details
✅ Host Institution: Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)
✅ Location: Klosterneuburg, Austria (Near Vienna)
✅ Program Type: Fully Funded Postdoctoral Fellowship
✅ Duration: 2 years
✅ Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions (4 annual calls)
✅ Next Deadline: September 16th, 2025
🔬 About ISTA
- Ranked among Europe’s top 10 research institutions
- 80+ research groups across 4 scientific disciplines
- 100% English-speaking environment
- State-of-the-art core facilities
Financial Benefits
The ISTA-Fellow Program offers:
✔ Annual Salary: €65,000-72,000 (Gross)
✔ Research Budget: €10,000/year
✔ Relocation Allowance: €5,000
✔ Family Support: Additional €3,000/year
✔ Health Insurance: Full coverage
✔ Conference Travel: €4,000/year
Eligibility Criteria
🎓 Academic Requirements
- PhD degree in relevant field (or completion within 6 months)
- Maximum 4 years post-PhD experience
- Strong publication record (Minimum 2 first-author papers)
🌍 General Requirements
- All nationalities eligible
- English proficiency (No test required)
- Research alignment with ISTA groups
Research Areas
🔬 Participating Disciplines
- Biology
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
- Computer Science
- Machine Learning
- Quantum Computing
- Algorithms
- Physics
- Quantum Physics
- Condensed Matter
- Astrophysics
- Mathematics
- Pure Mathematics
- Applied Mathematics
- Statistics
Required Documents
Prepare these PDF files:
📄 Curriculum Vitae (Max 3 pages)
📄 Research Statement (2-3 pages)
📄 PhD Certificate (Or completion letter)
📄 Publication List (With impact factors)
📄 3 Recommendation Letters
📄 ISTA Group Support Letter
Application Process
📝 Step-by-Step Guide
- Identify Research Group → Review ISTA Faculty Pages
- Contact Potential Supervisor → Secure endorsement
- Prepare Application Package → 2-3 months before deadline
- Online Submission → Via ISTA recruitment portal
- Interview Stage → Virtual or on-campus
- Final Decision → Within 8 weeks
Selection Criteria
Applications evaluated on:
✔ Scientific Excellence (40%)
✔ Research Potential (30%)
✔ ISTA Fit (20%)
✔ Recommendation Strength (10%)
🎯 Why Choose ISTA-Fellow?
- Work with Nobel-caliber scientists
- Access €50M+ core facilities
- Publish in top journals (Nature, Science, etc.)
- EU mobility opportunities
- Career development support
Click Here to Apply for
Postdoctoral Program ISTA in Austria 2025/26
For more fully funded postdoc opportunities, visit GOGEDU!
FAQs
❓ Is the salary negotiable?
💰 Yes, based on experience (Up to €78,000)
❓ Can I apply without supervisor contact?
📧 No, pre-approval required
❓ What’s the acceptance rate?
🏆 Highly competitive (~8% selection rate)
❓ Are humanities researchers eligible?
🎓 No, STEM fields only
❓ Is German language required?
🇩🇪 No, 100% English environment
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