ISTA PhD Program (Institute of Science and Technology Austria)

The ISTA PhD Program at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria offers fully funded, salaried doctoral positions just outside Vienna in Klosterneuburg. There are no tuition fees and no application fee: every admitted student is employed with an internationally competitive salary and full social security for the entire PhD.

ISTA is unusual because students are admitted to the institute first and choose their research group after rotations, across biology, neuroscience, physics, mathematics, computer science, chemistry and data science. A bachelor’s degree is sufficient to apply. The annual deadline for the 2027 intake is January 8, 2027, and all study is in English.

• Bachelor's or master's degree in biology, chemistry, neuroscience, mathematics, computer science, physics, data science and scientific computing, astronomy, earth science or a related area.
• Bachelor's-only entrants join a combined track with a coursework phase before full research, so a master's is not required.
• Open to all nationalities; the working language of the institute is English.
• Strong academic record and demonstrated research potential; prior research experience through internships or thesis work strengthens the file considerably.
• Three referees willing to submit letters of recommendation through the online system.
• Willingness to complete rotations in up to three research groups in the first year before affiliating with a lab.
• The programme starts uniformly on September 15 each year and the start date is non-negotiable.

• Employment at ISTA with an internationally competitive salary and full social security for the whole PhD, typically on five-year contracts.
• No tuition fees at any point and no fee to apply.
• First-year rotations in different groups so you choose your thesis lab after seeing the science from the inside.
• Access to top facilities in bioimaging, electron microscopy, nanofabrication and high-performance computing on a modern campus 25 minutes from Vienna.
• Funding for conferences and workshops plus structured career development for academia and industry.
• ISTA has ranked among the world's strongest young institutes, including a top-three normalized Nature Index ranking.

• Online application through the ISTA application portal (open from late October to the deadline; desktop browser required).
• Statement of Purpose describing your research experience, motivation, skills and the ISTA groups that interest you.
• Short written answers naming up to three preferred research groups and discussing a paper by an ISTA professor (with DOI) in your own words.
• University transcripts and diplomas for all degrees, in English and the original language.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Contact details for three referees; letters are due January 12, 2027 (23:59 CET).

• Read the research-group pages and the programme FAQ before you start, and pick groups that genuinely match your background.
• Register on the application portal when the call opens in late October 2026 and complete the form; you can save and return as often as needed.
• Submit your application by January 8, 2027 at 3:00 PM CET; referee details can also only be changed until that moment.
• Make sure your three referees submit their letters by January 12, 2027; chasing them is your responsibility.
• First review completes in February, shortlist interviews (mostly remote) run in March, and offers can be accepted until April 15.
• If admitted, plan your move for the fixed programme start on September 15, 2027.