IIST Austria: Fully Funded Graduate Internships and PhD Positions 2024

The Institute of Science and Technology Austria, IST Austria, offers fully funded PhD positions in the natural and mathematical sciences. Being located on the outskirts of Vienna, it combines a world-class research environment with proximity to a beautiful city.

So far, more than 53 professors have been very carefully selected from more than 11,000 applicants.

Because of this selective admission process, only the finest researchers and teachers are appointed to head and be part of the institute’s academic rows.

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Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

If you want to apply for a PhD course from IST Austria, the primary requirement for that would be satisfying its educational eligibility criteria. So, the main requirements in this regard are as follows:

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Science: Applicants seeking to join the PhD program must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a science subject. These subjects may include biology, physics, mathematics, computer science, or any other associated fields.
Association with Prior Degree: The application process will require proof of any previous degree(s) completed. Usually, this is verified with some sort of official transcript or certificate from one’s undergraduate and/or graduate institutions.

Academic Excellence: Although not stated, it is mostly a requirement needed for the admission process into the PhD program at IST Austria. A candidate with a strong academic record, portrayed by high grades and other academic achievements, has a better chance to be a competitive applicant.

Eligible Courses:

The Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria invites applications for the PhD program with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in any of the following, or any interdisciplinary area related to these:

Biology: A general term including molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, evolutionary biology, ecology, and bioinformatics.

Computer Science: This includes many sub-areas. It encompasses algorithms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, computer vision, robotics, software engineering, and theoretical computer science.

Chemistry: It covers Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and Biochemistry.

Neuroscience: The structure and function of the nervous system, neural circuits, neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience, neuroengineering.

Mathematics: It covers pure mathematics, applied mathematics, mathematical physics, mathematical biology, mathematical modeling, numerical analysis.

Physics: Subfields include condensed matter physics, particle physics, atomic and molecular physics, optics, biophysics, astrophysics, and theoretical physics.

Interdisciplinary/ Related Areas:

Also, students with degrees in interdisciplinary fields overlapping with the above, including but not limited to bioinformatics, computational biology, biophysics, mathematical biology, and computational chemistry, are also welcome to apply.

Selection Criteria:

The following factors are considered while selecting candidates for admission into the IST Austria PhD Program: –

Undergraduate Performance:

This course reviews the overall academic performance of the applicant, with greater emphasis on field-specific relevant courses. Good performance in core courses related to an applicant’s field of study is particularly valued.

Reference Letters:

Letters of reference from faculty members and senior scientists carry substantial weight in the final selection process. A letter of recommendation from the industry is acceptable but academic letters are preferred. Letters of reference should talk about the analytical skills, technical expertise, working independently, and motivation/commitment of the applicant.

Statement of Purpose:

Previous research experience and the motivation to join a particular PhD Program at IST Austria will be carefully considered. This statement shall include an element of good academic fit with the program and how it aligns with candidate’s future career plans.

Additional Relevant Skills:

Any other qualifications or experience on the part of the applicant, this includes internships, participation in research projects, active involvement in science Olympiads, proficiency in a chosen programming language, or laboratory techniques.

English Language Proficiency:

Each applicant must have fluent speaking and writing skills in English. Each candidate should be able to demonstrate that he/she can fluently communicate in English so as to participate in all the academic activities and also work together with the researchers at IST Austria.

Funding/Benefits: Researchers in the PhD program receive very competitive salaries by international standards; this ensures that they are relatively well catered for with regard to their research and other academic commitments. There is access to full health benefits, thereby ensuring access to comprehensive medical coverage for their well-being during this time in the program.

Application Deadline: The deadline is 8 January (23:59 CET) for PhD entry in September
How to apply

Thank you for your interest in applying to IST Austria’s PhD positions. In order to complete your application, please follow the next steps:

Application Period:
IST Austria issues one call per year. The online application portal will be open in the Fall of each year. Please consult the official IST Austria website for the exact dates and deadlines or contact the Admissions Office.

Create an Online Account:
To apply, you will first need to create an online account on the IST Austria application portal. This account will allow you to monitor the status of your application at all times.

Visit the Official Website for Further Details