The Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria) is actively searching for Professors and Assistant Professors. Applications from all scientific fields are welcome. Outstanding scientists in physics, chemistry, and mathematics are especially encouraged to apply.

Open call for Professor and Assistant Professor applications: Apply here for Professor and Assistant Professor. We encourage researchers with 5 to 7 or more years of leading an independent research group to apply for the position of a Professor.

The central criterion for a favorable decision in the specific scientific fields is the scientific quality of the researchers. The overall process requires a coordinated strategy of selecting the best candidates, while, at the same time, avoiding the danger of scientific isolation by creating "clusters" of groups in related fields and intellectual links among different disciplines.

IST Austria values diversity and is committed to equality. We offer special support for dual-career couples. Female researchers are encouraged to apply.

After an initial review, promising candidates are evaluated in detail by collecting further reviews from leading international scientists. Based on both the external scientific reviews and the strategic considerations of our scientific committees, candidates may be invited for a visit to the campus and discussions with the heads of the Institute.

The final approval to start negotiations with a candidate is given by the Professorial Committee, chaired by Olaf Kübler. The negotiations with the candidates are led by Thomas Henzinger. The entire process is administered by Laurenz Niel and a small team.

The search for Post Docs, Senior Staff Scientists and Staff Scientists is led by the relevant group leaders (Professors and Assistant Professors).

Tenure Track at IST Austria
Since IST Austria is not bound by Austrian university law, it is free to structure its scientific positions following international models. We have chosen a tenure-track scheme: IST Austria hires Professors and tenure-track Assistant Professors as independent group leaders. Within the Institute, Professors and Assistant Professors are treated equally and have equal say in all matters and decisions concerning the Institute (with the exception of decisions on promotions). The only difference between Assistant Professors and Professors is that the employment contract of an Assistant Professor is limited to five years, while the contract of a Professor is unlimited. However, every offer to an Assistant Professor contains the promise that after five years, there will be an evaluation made by international scientists of his or her scientific accomplishments, and solely the outcome of that evaluation will determine if the Assistant Professor will be promoted to Professor (under certain circumstances, the tenure evaluation can be postponed by two years, but never by more than that).

While the history of IST Austria is too short for historical data on a “tenure rate,” the philosophy of the Institute is to be conservative in hiring Assistant Professors and only hire those who have the greatest potential of making tenure. The Institute wants all of its Assistant Professors to succeed and will support them in any way it can. There is no competition for a limited number of tenured “slots” among the Assistant Professors of the Institute.