Admission Rules

1. Application deadline: 

  • April 30th  2017 

2. Application documents
The applicants are asked to submit as a single PDF file, including

  • Letter of motivation (up to two pages) with a statement on the proposed research as an ESQ fellow in Austria
  • Curriculum vitae, including relevant university grades, list of publications, awards and recognitions
  • English transcript of the PhD certificate
  • Please make sure that your referees submit their confidential letters of reference from their own email account before the submission deadline to office@esq-quantum.at.


3. Selection criteria will be

  • Academic track record
  • Publications
  • Reference letters & other distinctions
  • Qualitiy of the research plan
  • Other merit indicators: e.g. mobility, teaching, supervision, knowledge transfer, management

The selection of the candidates is merit-based, disregarding race, age or nationality – following the concepts of equality and the principle of non-discrimination in the EU. Applications from female applicants will be especially welcomed to increase the number of female scientists in quantum research. There is no regional or institutional quota in the selection process.

4. Preselection and hearing

  • The President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) will preselect candidates
  • All preselected candidates will be invited to a hearing in front of the selection committee
  • On two days preceding the hearing, the candidates will be given the chance to visit the labs and to talk to scientists in Austria, depending on which group they choose to work with.
  • During the hearing the candidates will
    • present their own previous research
    • discuss their research plans in Austria
    • have an interview with the selection committee

5. Selection and Appointment

The selection committee evaluates the proposal and leads the selection process. The selection committee's recommendation will be presented to the President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, who decides on the awarding of fellowships.

6. Information of preselected candidates

Preselected candidates will be informed in May 2017

  • about the days of lab visits and hearings
  • how to obtain reimbursement for travel expenses
  • about accommodation reserved for them
  • about the committee they will meet at the hearing

6. Selection hearings will be held in Vienna at the Austrian Academy of Sciences

7. Final selection

Within two weeks after the final selection successful candidates

  • will be informed about their selection and possible starting dates
  • will be asked to confirm acceptance of the fellowship within one month

All other candidates will be informed that they were not selected.