IWM Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026 in Austria (Fully Funded)

The Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026 provides an exceptional opportunity for international scholars at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, Austria. Supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure, this fully funded fellowship program focuses on exploring how digital technologies are reshaping society, politics, global power relations, and human behavior.

The fellowship emphasizes interdisciplinary and critical research that addresses the complex societal transformations brought about by digitalization, including its impacts on democracy, labor markets, human rights, education, and culture. The program is designed primarily for young scholars in the humanities and social sciences, particularly those with innovative projects that analyze the intersection of technology and society. Successful applicants will join a diverse community of researchers who engage deeply with questions about the future of digital society, providing a unique platform for academic growth and professional development in a prestigious European setting.

Eligibility

• Open to applicants of all nationalities
• Junior Visiting Fellowship:
    ◦ Must be currently enrolled in a PhD program or have completed a PhD within the last 4 years by the application deadline
• Senior Visiting Fellowships:
    ◦ Awarded by invitation only
• No age limit specified
• No field restrictions, though the research topic must relate to digitalization and its societal impacts

Program Dates

• Application deadline: 21 September 2025
• Fellowship begins: Flexible start date in 2026 (depends on selected month)
• Fellowship duration:
    ◦ 1 month for Senior Visiting Fellows
    ◦ 3 months for Junior Visiting Fellows

Program Coverage / Benefits

• Monthly stipend:
    ◦ €3300/month for postdoctoral researchers (PhD holders)
    ◦ €2750/month for doctoral researchers (PhD candidates)
• Additional support:
    ◦ House lunch at IWM
    ◦ Office space
    ◦ Access to IWM's scholarly events and networks
    

Required Documents

• A brief letter of motivation that addresses how the candidate would benefit from their time at the IWM, their connection to the IWM’s mission and research, and concrete research/writing goals during the fellowship
• A project description summary (max. 550 characters)
• A project proposal (max. 7,500 characters incl. spaces) containing a) a description of the project’s objectives, b) a discussion of the current state of the art, c) methods, and d) a project schedule
• A curriculum vitae including a list of publications
• Two letters of recommendation from scholars familiar with the applicant’s academic work (Please note that the letters of recommendation need to be submitted directly by your referees within the application period. Your referees will receive an automatic email with a link to a webform after you have submitted your application.)

Application Process

• Applications must be submitted online via the IWM portal
• Follow submission guidelines and upload documents as one PDF file
• Referees must send recommendation letters directly