The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) has officially opened applications for the prestigious Digital Humanism Fellowship for the 2026–2027 academic year. The fellowship offers doctoral candidates and early-career postdoctoral researchers from around the world the opportunity to undertake interdisciplinary research in Vienna, Austria, while contributing to critical discussions on the relationship between technology and society.
Hosted under the Institute’s Digital Humanism Program, the fellowship encourages scholars from diverse academic backgrounds to examine how digital technologies shape humanity, governance, economics, culture, and global society. Applications are open until 21 September 2026, providing an excellent opportunity for researchers seeking international academic collaboration and professional development.
About the Digital Humanism Fellowship
The Digital Humanism Fellowship promotes research that explores the complex interactions between technological innovation and human society. Rather than focusing solely on technological advancement, the programme seeks research that contributes to building a more inclusive, ethical, and human-centred digital future.
Digital Humanism is an interdisciplinary field that examines how technology affects individuals, institutions, economies, and democratic societies while advocating for innovation that respects universal human rights and promotes social well-being.
The Institute emphasizes that this programme is distinct from Digital Humanities. Applications that merely use digital tools to conduct humanities research will not be considered. Instead, successful proposals should critically investigate the broader societal implications of digitalization and emerging technologies.
Research Areas
Applicants are encouraged to submit projects addressing topics related to:
• Digital transformation and society
• Technology and human rights
• Artificial intelligence and governance
• Digital policy and regulation
• Social, political and economic impacts of digitalisation
• Geopolitics of emerging technologies
• Ethics and responsible innovation
• Humanities and social science perspectives on technology
Interdisciplinary research that combines insights from computer science, political science, sociology, philosophy, economics, law, media studies, and related disciplines is particularly encouraged.
Fellowship Benefits
Selected fellows will spend three consecutive months at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna between February and June 2027.
The fellowship provides generous financial support based on academic status.
Postdoctoral Fellows
• Monthly stipend of EUR 3,300
Doctoral Candidates
• Monthly stipend of EUR 2,750
In addition to the stipend, fellows will receive access to numerous institutional resources, including:
• Fully equipped office space
• High-speed internet access
• In-house research facilities
• Administrative and institutional support
• Membership within the international IWM scholarly community
• Opportunities to participate in seminars, workshops, lectures and academic events
The fellowship period is synchronized with the residence of the Senior Digital Humanism Visiting Fellow, creating valuable opportunities for mentorship, collaboration and interdisciplinary exchange.
Expenses Covered by Fellows
Recipients should note that the monthly stipend is intended to cover all personal expenses throughout the fellowship period.
These include:
• Accommodation in Vienna
• International and local travel
• Health insurance
• Utilities
• Local transportation
• Telecommunications
• Daily living expenses
• Research-related costs such as books, conference registration fees and literature
Fellowships begin on the first day of the starting month and conclude on the final day of the third month.
Eligibility Requirements
The fellowship welcomes applications from outstanding early-career researchers worldwide.
Eligible applicants must:
• Be enrolled in a doctoral programme, or
• Have completed a PhD no earlier than 21 September 2022
Applicants must have successfully defended their doctoral dissertation before the application deadline if applying as postdoctoral researchers.
Additional eligibility conditions include:
• Only one fellowship application may be submitted during the same academic year.
• Previous IWM fellows must wait three academic years before applying for another fellowship.
Required Application Documents
All applications must be completed in English and submitted through the Institute’s online application system.
Applicants are required to prepare the following:
• A motivation letter explaining the project’s relevance, expected benefits of conducting research at IWM, and planned research outcomes.
• A project description of up to 550 characters, including spaces.
• A detailed project proposal of up to 7,500 characters, including spaces, covering:
• Project objectives
• Current state of research
• Research methodology
• Planned work schedule
• A curriculum vitae including publications.
• Two confidential letters of recommendation submitted directly by academic referees before the application deadline.
Applicants should also ensure all supporting documents are merged into a single PDF file before submission, as only one attachment can be uploaded. File names must use Latin characters.
Applications submitted via email will not be accepted.
Selection Process
Applications meeting the fellowship’s thematic and formal requirements will undergo evaluation by an expert jury.
Successful candidates will be selected based on:
• Academic excellence
• Quality and originality of the research proposal
• Relevance to Digital Humanism
• Potential contribution to interdisciplinary scholarship
Applicants will receive notification of the final selection results via email by 30 November 2026. Individual feedback on unsuccessful applications will not be provided.
Advancing Human-Centred Digital Research
The Digital Humanism Fellowship represents one of Europe’s leading opportunities for emerging scholars investigating the societal impacts of digital technologies. By bringing together researchers from diverse disciplines, the programme encourages innovative thinking on how technological progress can better serve humanity while protecting democratic values, human rights and social inclusion.
Funded by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure of the Republic of Austria, the fellowship continues to strengthen international research collaboration while supporting the next generation of scholars working at the intersection of technology and society.
Application Deadline: 21 September 2026 (23:59 CEST)
