About the fellowship
The application period for the 2017 call for applications is now open. The application deadline is March 15, 2017.
In order to attract outstanding postdoctoral researchers, the Institute has set up a program for exceptional researchers, which is partially funded by the European Union1, ISTFELLOW.
ISTFELLOW is open to qualified applicants from all over the world who are interested in spending the postdoctoral stage of their scientific research career at IST Austria. The program is intended for postdocs interested in the areas that are represented by the faculty at IST Austria. As the research portfolio of the Institute continues to branch out into other areas in the coming years, including physics, chemistry, and mathematics, so will the ISTFELLOW program. At all times, in keeping with the spirit of the Institute, ISTFELLOW will give preference to scientists who have a strong interest in cross-disciplinary approaches.
Appointments under the ISTFELLOW program are for two years. Fellows may stay for an additional two years if the host professor(s) agree and have sufficient funds.
Applications
Requirements and Eligibility
Highly qualified candidates with research focuses from all disciplines in the natural or computer sciences, mathematics or any related discipline are invited to apply for a full-time ISTFELLOW postdoctoral position at IST Austria.
All applicants must have completed doctoral studies or equivalent or anticipate the completion of their studies prior to the commencement of the position. Candidates must be proficient in written and oral English.
Scientists already employed at IST Austria are not eligible for the program.
Deadlines
Applications are accepted at any time for the ISTFELLOW program, but fellows will be selected each year in April. The application deadline is the 15th of March. All application files, including reference letters, must be received by these dates, and must be submitted online on our website.
Find the online application in the "Further official information" link below this announcement.
Benefits
All ISTFELLOW recipients will be offered full-time employment contracts at IST Austria and will receive an internationally competitive salary with full social security coverage. In addition, the program will provide:
- Travel allowance to scientific conferences and workshops
- Support for study visits
Housing, a guest house and four apartment buildings are available on the IST campus. Depending upon availability, a room in the guest house or an apartment can be rented for a period of up to one year after arrival, giving incoming postdocs time to find suitable accommodation for the following years.
IST offers German-language courses on campus.
Selection and Evaluation
All applications will be received by the Academic Affairs Office, which will determine the candidate’s formal eligibility to participate in the program. The application materials of every eligible candidate will be forwarded to the Selection Committee.
Every year in April, the Selection Committee will meet to discuss all eligible candidates.
Normally, the top five candidates will be offered an ISTFELLOW position; however, it is possible that fewer or more fellowships are offered.Official fellowship offers will be made within two weeks of the selection meeting, and the chosen candidates have two months to accept or reject the offer. Both successful and unsuccessful candidates will be informed at the same time. Unsuccessful candidates will not be put on a waiting list, but strong candidates who are above the pass mark but cannot be offered fellowships will be put on a reserve list. They may also strengthen their application by providing new information and resubmitting it by the next cut-off date. If any fellowship offers are turned down, then a candidate from the reserve list can be invited.The candidates who accept their offer may move to IST Austria at any time, but no later than seven months after the offer has been made. In other words, fellowships that are offered in April must start no later than November.
Selection Committee Setup
The key role in the selection process is played by the Selection Committee, which currently consists of IST professors and/or assistant professors. The number of professors on the Selection Committee will increase as the faculties represented at IST Austria increase. The Selection Committee will be headed by the program chair of ISTFELLOW. The chair of the program is appointed for three years. As a rule, the professorial members are elected from the body of all IST professors and assistant professors, and the election will be carried out in a way that ensures that all disciplines of IST Austria will have a faculty representative on the committee. All initial appointments will vary from 1 to 3 years, so that two members of the Selection Committee (one-third of the Committee) will be replaced each year. After this initial stage, this sliding rotation will be ensured by making all appointments for three years.
How to Apply
When applying, you will have to create an online account with us, which will allow you to track your application through its various stages. Please note that you will not be able to switch between the different steps. You do not need to complete the process in one sitting, as you can return to your account until you submit the application. Once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to make changes!
Instructions
Step 1: Create an account
Register online by entering your name and e-mail address using the link above. You will immediately receive an e-mail with the link to your user account.
Step 2: Confirm your registration
Step 3: Recommendation letters
Enter the names and e-mail addresses of 3 referees who have taught or collaborated with you or followed or supervised your work and are therefore able to evaluate your academic and research performance. They will receive an e-mail directly from us with the subject “IST Austria – Request for Letter of Recommendation” with a link to an online platform. Before submitting your referees’ details, please make sure that they are willing and available to provide their recommendation within the respective deadline. Keep in mind that your recommenders need time to write and submit the letters.
Please note that you will not be allowed to upload scanned letters of recommendation yourself. All letters of recommendation must be submitted by your referees via this platform.
Please also note that we are unable to process your application without letters of recommendation. These letters are an integral part of your application, and it is your responsibility to ensure that all letters of reference are submitted by the respective deadline.
Step 4: Application form
In this step you will need to submit a resume/CV, university transcripts, a research statement, and an ethics table. We recommend that you submit these documents by uploading PDF files. If this is not possible, you may "cut and paste" them into the application.
Make sure that you fill in all fields (resume, research statement). If you would like to upload documents in the next step, please make sure that you tick the appropriate box. Once you have moved on to the next step, you will not be able to return and make changes.
In your resume/CV, include your educational history since high school, relevant work experience, additional qualifications, list of publications (if any), scholarships, awards, etc.
The research statement is a 2- to 3-page essay outlining and motivating the planned research, its goals and general significance. You do not need to give specific timelines and milestones, however. IST Austria is an Institute for basic research and its scientists are free to adjust their research plan in whatever direction they deem most promising.
IST professors or assistant professors will confirm whether or not the planned research can be carried out with the resources and facilities available at the Institute.
An ethics check table needs to be filled in by each applicant. If the applicant answered YES to one of the questions on the checklist, s/he shall briefly describe the ethical aspects of the proposed research project.
Step 5: Supporting documents
Upload PDF copies of your university transcripts and diploma certificates. All applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent or anticipate the completion of the degree before the respective start date. If your current course of study is still on-going, please provide the latest transcript and state when you expect to receive your degree.
In this step, you will also be able to upload additional supporting documents such as publications, TOEFL/IELTS and GRE scores. As the official language of the Institute is English, these documents are helpful, but not mandatory. The IST Austria TOEFL code is 6384.
Step 6: Submit your application
The deadline for submission is the 15th of March, 24:00 CET. Once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to make changes. At this stage, you will be able to track the status of the letters of reference, and, if need be, are able to send out reminder e-mails.
Should you have any questions, please contact istfellow@ist.ac.at.
For more information click "Further official information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://ist.ac.at/de/forschung/postdoctoral-research/applications/