NOMIS ISTA Fellowship Announced in Austria for Foreign Applicants

Austria is once again opening its doors to the world’s brightest postdoctoral researchers with the launch of the NOMIS-ISTA Fellowship 2025. This prestigious opportunity—jointly offered by the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and the NOMIS Foundation—invites global applicants to push scientific boundaries at the intersection of disciplines.

Each year, only two researchers are selected for this elite program, designed to empower independent scientific thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and bold exploration of high-risk research ideas. This is not just a postdoctoral role—it’s a springboard to becoming a leader in your field.

What Makes the NOMIS-ISTA Fellowship Unique?

At its core, the NOMIS-ISTA Fellowship fosters research that crosses disciplinary boundaries. Fellows are expected to work under the guidance of two scientific mentors from different fields, tackling problems that lie between traditional academic lines. If a second mentor cannot be found within ISTA, candidates may propose an external supervisor and pursue a secondment of up to three months per year outside the institute.

Fellowship Highlights and Funding Package

Here’s what successful fellows can expect:

1. Three full years of funding at ISTA in Austria
2. Minimum annual gross salary of €75,586
3. Research and travel funding provided
4. Access to world-class laboratories and scientific service units
5. Cross-disciplinary mentorship from leading scientists
6. Career development, scientific leadership, and research ethics training
7. Optional teaching experience to further professional growth
8. Integration into both ISTA’s and the NOMIS Foundation’s global networks

This fellowship offers the freedom to ask big scientific questions—supported by a structure that promotes creativity and collaborative research at the highest level.

Eligible Applicants

The call is open to international candidates from all research fields represented at ISTA. Applicants must:

1. Have a PhD awarded by the time of recruitment (within 8 months after the application deadline)
2. Ideally have initial postdoctoral or interdisciplinary research experience
3. Not have been employed at ISTA before June 13, 2024
4. Be prepared to attend a remote interview approximately 8–10 weeks after the submission deadline
5. Be ready to begin the fellowship within 6 months of selection notification

Even researchers without extensive postdoctoral experience are encouraged to apply if they can demonstrate exceptional potential and a compelling interdisciplinary research idea.

Apply: https://ista.ac.at/en/education/postdocs/nomis-ista-fellowship/

Application Deadline: September 18, 2025.