ISTA Welcomes a Record 80 New PhD Students

The Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) kicked off its academic year on Monday, September 15, 2025, by welcoming a record 80 new PhD candidates from 32 countries and five continents to its campus.

As ISTA’s campus and number of research groups grow, so does its number of PhD students. Topping last year’s cohort by four, the new group further boosts the diversity of ISTA’s community and underscores the Institute’s rising profile as an internationally renowned center for both cutting-edge research and training. While 55 percent of the new arrivals come from Europe, the remaining 45 percent hail from Asia, North America, South America and Africa.

Around 80 percent of the newcomers hold a Master’s degree, with the rest entering with a Bachelor’s.

‘Let your curiosity guide you’

ISTA President Martin Hetzer encouraged the new students to let curiosity be their guide — and to enjoy their research journey.

“The most powerful moments in science come when you realize you might be the first to uncover a piece of truth,” Hetzer said in a message marking the arrival of the new group. “To those starting their PhD studies: Chase those moments. Let your curiosity guide you. Work with people who inspire you and lift you up. And if you are having fun—even when it’s hard—you are probably doing it right.” Training PhD students is central to ISTA’s mission, with its innovative rotation system setting it apart from other institutes and universities. This means that incoming doctoral candidates don’t select a final research group and supervisor right away. Instead, they rotate through at least three groups in their first year, gaining valuable insights into different methods and disciplines to foster interdisciplinary thinking from the start.

Sense of community

“The philosophy we aspire to is one in which everyone mentors everyone else,” new Graduate School Dean Mario de Bono said in his welcome message. “Nature does not give up its secrets easily. However, the community at ISTA and the fantastic and long-term support we have, should give you the confidence to tackle important and difficult problems.”

After officially opening its doors in 2009, the Klosterneuburg-based Institute welcomed its first seven PhD candidates in 2010. Reflecting ISTA’s rapid growth over the past 15 years, the Graduate School now counts more than 400 PhD students on its campus. Looking ahead, ISTA aims to expand even further: from around 90 research groups today to 150 groups by 2036, creating more opportunities for PhD positions.

ISTA’s PhD program is fully funded and in English, with applications accepted annually starting in the fall until January of the new year. First-year international PhD students can opt to live on campus to help them adapt to life in Austria.