IWM | Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowship

The call for applications is open to all academic disciplines. Digital Humanism is defined as an approach that describes, analyzes, and, most importantly, influences the complex interplay between technology and humankind—striving for a better society while maintaining full respect for universal human rights. Addressing the challenges of the digital age requires collaboration across disciplines, from computer science to the humanities, to ensure that technological advancements align with human values and social well-being. 

The program’s research area is clearly distinguished from the Digital Humanities. Please note that we will not consider applications that merely apply digital means and new technologies to research in the humanities. Candidates for Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowships are expected to pursue research on digitalization’s intersection with societal, economic, and geopolitical dimensions, as well as other relevant research foci from the humanities and social sciences.

Conditions 

The selected candidates will be invited to spend a term of three consecutive months at the IWM in Vienna between February and June 2027 in order to pursue their research projects as Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellows. The fellowship period will be synchronized to overlap with the presence of the Senior Digital Humanism Visiting Fellow.

Postdoctoral candidates who have defended their PhD by the date of the fellowship application deadline will receive a stipend of 3,300 euros per month; candidates currently pursuing their doctoral degree will receive a stipend of 2,750 euros per month. From the stipend, visiting fellows are responsible for covering all living expenses during their research term, including travel to and from Vienna, accommodation costs, health insurance, utilities, local transport, telecommunications, etc., as well as research costs (i.e. for literature, conference fees). 

Fellowships start on the first day of the first month and end on the last day of the last month of the fellowship period.

The IWM provides visiting fellows with office space, internet access, in-house research facilities, and administrative services, all free of charge. The visiting fellows will join the IWM community of scholars and are invited to participate in the activities of the Institute.

Eligibility

Candidates for the Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowship must be enrolled in a doctoral program, or have obtained a PhD not longer than four years previously at the time of the application deadline (not before 21 September 2022).

Multiple fellowship applications from the same candidate within the same academic year are not accepted. Candidates who have previously received a resident IWM fellowship must wait two academic years before applying for another fellowship.

Application

The deadline for applications is 21 September 2026. 

Further information on the application guidelines and selection procedure are available on the website of the IWM.