Join us as an early career researcher

YSSP12 © IIASA

As an early career researcher at IIASA you are integrated into a research group of typically 10-20 researchers, from junior to senior, as well as into a bigger IIASA research program that typically covers several research groups.

Within your research group you are likely addressing challenges with an interdisciplinary team of colleagues with different backgrounds, trained in different modes of thinking. Brace yourself for a lot of input and interesting conversations!

At IIASA you are supervised by one or more senior IIASA scientists who guide you in your learning of new methods and tools, and support you in the development of your research ideas and skills, including how to generate and interpret research results. As these skills develop you grow into positions of more and more independence and responsibility, connecting more and more fields of knowledge and practice. Our mentoring program supports researchers at all levels in reflecting on their career paths and challenges ahead. 

Our researchers are used to working in culturally diverse environments and are very approachable. Go and talk to them, many have an open-door policy and will lend you a friendly open ear. 

Much of IIASA research is about data and models. At IIASA you have access to the most up-to-date relevant data and converse with the developers of the most sought-after decision support tools. Your own research is supported by teams of friendly professionals, including IIASA’s Library and Knowledge Management team who give you access to all the literature you need faster than you can ask for it.  

Beyond the circle of your immediate colleagues you are part of a vibrant community of interdisciplinary early career scientists. They support each other and share experiences in their career development. They self-organize regular seminars to share progress and meet regularly for lunches and social activities to build an international professional network. There are more opportunities to get to know researchers in other parts of the institute, be it through intellectual activities such as seminars and workshops, or through social events and activities (of which there are many, one of them explicitly called Enlarge your Social Circle at IIASA) or through one of the many clubs at IIASA. 

Apropos international network: as a IIASA staff you have access to a large international network of alumni, who are keen to maintain links with IIASA and might be able to help you in taking your next step. IIASA also collates information on career and development opportunities for early career researchers, including information on grants and fellowships, and supports you in writing and submitting applications.  

Much of IIASA’s work is very applied and some of it actually supports decision makers in very concrete ways. Thus, at IIASA you have opportunity to interact with decision makers, understand their perspectives on the world and their specific domain, and reflect this in your work.  

Still not sure what applied systems analysis is? IIASA offers introductory courses on systems thinking and systems analysis to get an overview. Also, as a participant in IIASA’s systems analysis reading group you can expose yourself to different approaches to systems analysis and become and experienced systems analysis with a broad array of tools. Most importantly, at IIASA you are immersed in research on systems analysis and will directly experience at least one perspective. 

Some of our early career scientists pursue a PhD at a local university in parallel. If this is an option for you, talk to your supervisor and the CDAT unit about it. IIASA also offers collaboration through partnerships with other organizations, such as the Complexity Science Hub Vienna. 

Coming to IIASA as an early career researcher can boost your own career substantially. Some of our past early career researchers have become researcher leaders at IIASA. Others have become researchers and professors elsewhere, some have joined international organizations, and some have started their own businesses.

IIASA regularly offers research skills training, both informally and formally, and gives you opportunity to apply for funding to take part in external training events.  

As a regular IIASA staff member you have access to IIASA’s parental and family benefits. 

Living in Vienna is one of the perks of working at IIASA. Vienna has been voted repeatedly one of the most livable cities in the world. Whether you like music, the arts or just to hang out in a city of culture, water and skiing, whether you like outdoor activities or traveling in Europe, Vienna is in the center of it all and offers more than you can make use of.  

IIASA Connect © IIASA

IIASA Connect

offers a platform for connecting our international systems analysis community. Are you part of our early career network? Join today.

connect.iiasa.ac.at

News

Eldery woman heat

10 October 2024

New tool provides knowledge on heat stress vulnerability in cities for more targeted adaptation

Heat-related deaths and diseases are a major concern in Europe amid increasing extended periods of extreme heat. A new study proposes a novel way of quantifying and projecting future vulnerability to heat stress in different areas of a city, providing local decision makers with knowledge for designing more effective adaptation strategies to minimize health impacts of heat stress.
Modern city with eco-friendly architecture: green facades, rooftop gardens, integrated public transportation systems, and urban design prioritizing climate resilience

04 September 2024

The role of urban green spaces as nature-based solutions in Korea and Germany

Imagine a city where every neighborhood has lush green spaces that not only beautify the area but also improve the quality of life for its residents. How can we work together to make this vision a reality? Jaewon Son, a participant in the 2024 IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program shares insights into this important question.

Nina_background

21 August 2024

Spotlight on Nina Fefferman: 2024 Peter de Jánosi Visiting Fellow

To maximize the benefits of having experienced researchers from US institutions visiting IIASA as part of the Peter de Jánosi Fellowship, the current fellow was selected to train the next generation of young scientists as part of the first IIASA Summer School for Systems Modeling. IIASA Science writer, Vladimir Tarakanov, sat down with Nina Fefferman to get her first impressions of the Institute.

Early career opportunities

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CALL OPEN NOW! Archimedes Center and IIASA Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Recently graduated PhD students wishing to develop skills, experience and expertise in systems analysis, and in international and interdisciplinary research are invited to apply for a 1-2 years postdoctoral fellowship within the IIASA-Archimedes Postdoctoral Program. The Fellowship is open to Israeli citizens that completed their PhD in any university in Israel or abroad or to any applicant (any citizenship) that graduated with PhD from an Israeli University. We are especially looking for highly qualified early-career researchers who received their PhD no more than five years before the appointment started.
applynow

CALL OPEN NOW! Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) and IIASA Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

INSF will fund up to three highly qualified, early-career postdoctoral researchers to carry out interdisciplinary research in fields of mutual interest at both INSF and IIASA, which include but are not limited to environment, energy, ecology, natural resources, demography, and research methods in the field of systems analysis.  
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General funding opportunities

In addition to the (bilateral) fellowships above we invite you to look at the following funding opportunities available in our NMO countries and across the world which sponsor postdoctoral fellows in areas of research complementary to work done at IIASA. Please note that the list is non exhaustive and is continuously updated.
PKU

Peking University (PKU) - IIASA Postdoctoral Program

Postdoctoral students wishing to develop skills, experience and expertise in systems analysis, and in international and interdisciplinary research are invited to apply for a 2 year fellowship within the PKU-IIASA Postdoctoral Program. 
MC

Marie Curie Individual Fellowships

Are you a researcher in possession of a doctoral degree and with no more than eight years of full-time equivalent research experience? Discover the opportunities of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships for researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. Our institute invites Expressions of Interest proposals to participate in the Marie Curie Individual Fellowships scheme with IIASA as host institution. Eligible candidates are invited to approach us anytime before 31 May 2024.
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The Korea Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship

Korean nationals who have received their doctoral degrees by Korean universities are eligible to apply for postdoctoral fellowships. Biannually, the National Research Foundation of Korea provides funding for up to 24 months.