If you’ve been waiting for a high-impact PhD opportunity in Europe where research freedom, world-class labs, and international collaboration converge, this is your signal. The 2026 PhD application portal is now officially open at Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)—one of Europe’s most competitive and interdisciplinary research institutes. Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates from across the globe are invited to step into a fully research-driven doctoral environment starting September 2026.
What This Doctoral Opportunity Offers?
ISTA’s PhD program is built to remove financial barriers and maximize research focus from day one. Successful candidates receive a comprehensive doctoral package designed for full-time, independent research.
The fellowship highlights include:
- Fully funded PhD position with competitive doctoral salary
- Access to cutting-edge laboratories and computational infrastructure
- Interdisciplinary research environment across science, math, and computing
- Structured first-year graduate school with lab rotations before group affiliation
- International faculty, global research exposure, and strong post-PhD placement
Who Should Apply?
ISTA actively seeks high-potential researchers from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds who are motivated to pursue frontier science.
You are encouraged to apply if you have:
- A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (completed or near completion)
- Academic background in biology, chemistry, neuroscience, mathematics, computer science, physics, data science, scientific computing, astronomy, earth sciences, or related fields
- Strong interest in research and interdisciplinary collaboration
- Ability to submit all application materials in English
- Three academic referees who can assess your research potential
Applicants switching disciplines, women in underrepresented fields, and candidates with international or interdisciplinary experience are particularly welcomed.
How the Application Works?
ISTA processes PhD applications once per year, and submissions are accepted only through the official online portal https://phd.pages.ist.ac.at/phd-application-admission/.
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the ISTA PhD Program 2026 is January 8, 2026, at 3:00 PM CET. Changes to referee details must also be completed by this time, while referees have until January 11, 2026 (11:59 PM CET) to submit recommendation letters. Following the application review in February, 2026, shortlisted candidates will be notified by early March and interviewed in March. Final offers will be issued shortly after, with an acceptance deadline of 15 April 2026. The PhD program officially begins on 15 September 2026, a fixed and non-negotiable start date.