The Digital Humanism Fellowship in Vienna 🇦🇹 invites outstanding doctoral candidates and early-career researchers from around the world to apply for a transformative three-month research residency for the 2026–2027 academic year. This prestigious fellowship supports innovative research at the intersection of technology, society, human rights, ethics, geopolitics, digital policy, and social sciences—bringing together scholars committed to shaping a human-centered digital future.
🌍 Digital Humanism focuses on analyzing and influencing the relationship between humans and technology to ensure technological development remains ethical, just, and aligned with universal human rights. This fellowship is not part of the Digital Humanities field; instead, it targets the societal, political, and philosophical challenges of digital transformation.
Selected fellows will spend three consecutive months (September–December 2026) at the renowned IWM – Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, joining an interdisciplinary community of scholars, participating in events, and benefiting from institutional support, mentorship, and collaboration.
💰 Funding & Fellowship Conditions
- 🏙️ Location: Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹
- 🗓️ Fellowship duration: 3 months (September–December 2026)
- 💶 Monthly stipend:
- €3,300 for postdoctoral researchers
- €2,750 for PhD candidates
- 🧾 Stipend must cover personal living expenses (travel, accommodation, health insurance, utilities, local transport, food, research materials).
- 🖥️ Fellows receive office space, WiFi, administrative support, and access to research facilities at IWM.
- 👥 Fellows join the IWM scholarly community and participate in institute activities.
- 📅 Fellowships always begin on the 1st of the month and end on the last day of the final month.
🎓 Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be:
- Enrolled in a doctoral program OR
- Hold a PhD earned after 20 January 2022
- Only one application to IWM per academic year is allowed.
- Former IWM fellowship recipients must wait two academic years before reapplying.
- Candidates must submit all documents in English.
- Previously awarded fellows of the same program cannot reapply.
✍️ How to Apply
Applications must be submitted exclusively via the online form on the IWM website.
📄 Required materials include:
- ✉️ Letter of motivation
- 📝 Project description (max 550 characters)
- 📚 Project proposal (max 7,500 characters) including:
- Objectives
- State of research
- Methods
- Work plan
- 📘 Curriculum vitae + publication list
- 📨 Two recommendation letters (submitted directly by referees)
- 📎 All documents must be combined into one single PDF (Latin characters only)
❗ Applications sent by email will not be considered.
🕒 Deadline: 20 January 2026, 23:59 CET
📬 Applicants notified by 30 April 2026
🤝 Cooperation Partner
Funded by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure of the Republic of Austria.
📩 Contact:
Kasper Nowak – Fellowship Program Coordinator
fellowships@iwm.at
🔗 Application Link
⚠️ Important Notice
1️⃣ Source of Information
This announcement has been prepared based on the information provided by the project coordinator.
2️⃣ Responsibility for Content
The project coordinator is solely responsible for the accuracy, details, and updates of the opportunity content.
3️⃣ Right to Modify or Withdraw
Coordinating organisations reserve the right to make changes after publication — including dates, activity details, or application deadlines — or to withdraw the announcement entirely.
4️⃣ Disclaimer of Liability
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💡 Final Note:
All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official project coordinator or programme website before applying.
