FWF | ASTRA Awards
The FWF ASTRA career funding program gives advanced postdocs in Austria the opportunity to make the leap to the top of their research field.
Target group
The funding program is aimed at successful, internationally visible researchers from all disciplines, including arts-based research, who have already achieved a certain degree of academic independence (R3).
Funding goals
The highly endowed FWF ASTRA Awards offer outstanding researchers the conditions they need to conduct long-term research projects at a top international level, consolidate their individual research profiles, and acquire the necessary qualifications for academic leadership positions.
ASTRA has the following key objectives:
- Funding excellent, innovative research, including through the development or establishment of new research fields and/or approaches
- Attracting and retaining internationally visible researchers to help increase the international attractiveness of Austrian research institutions
- Supporting outstanding women researchers
- Supporting the consolidation of the principal investigators’ academic careers and the achievement of the qualifications needed for academic leadership positions, especially senior faculty positions
- Establishing long-term career prospects through the integration of researchers and their research fields at the research institutions, creating sustainable added value for both researchers and research institutions
The program includes a number of measures for the advancement of women: Half of the FWF ASTRA awards are given to women; tenure package; career coaching and networking measures, child allowances.
Funding period and amount
- From 500,000 euros up to a maximum of 1 million euros for a period of 5 years
- An additional 200,000 euros tenure package for women ASTRA principal investigators who are granted a position with a permanent employment commitment upon fulfillment of a qualification agreement (e. g. tenure-track position) or a permanent academic leadership position (professorship or equivalent position) within the first three years of the project term.
Submission
The deadline for applications is 10 September 2026, 14 h.
More information about the application requirements and the submission procedure are available on the website of the FWF.