Digital Humanism Fellowship – Call for Applications for the 2026–2027 Academic Year. The Digital Humanism Fellowship forms part of the broader Digital Humanism Program. Applications are welcome from researchers across all academic disciplines. It is handled by Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen Institute for Human Sciences (IWM). This Fellowship will be at Vienna which is the capital and largest city of Austria, located in Central Europe. Vienna’s location sits in the northeastern corner of the country along the Danube River, near the borders of Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.
Digital Humanism is understood as an approach that examines, analyses, and actively shapes the complex relationship between technology and human society. It seeks to promote a better society while fully upholding universal human rights. Meeting the challenges of the digital era requires collaboration across fields—from computer science to the humanities—so that technological progress remains aligned with human values and social well-being.
This research focus is distinct from the Digital Humanities. Applications that simply apply digital tools or new technologies to traditional humanities research will not be considered. Candidates for the Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowships are expected to investigate the intersections of digitalisation with societal, economic, and geopolitical issues, or other relevant themes drawn from the humanities and social sciences.
Conditions of the Fellowship
Successful applicants will spend three consecutive months at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna between February and June 2027. During this period they will pursue their research projects as Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellows. The fellowship term is timed to coincide with the presence of the Senior Digital Humanism Visiting Fellow.
Financial support is provided as follows:
- Postdoctoral researchers who have already defended their PhD by the application deadline receive a monthly stipend of EUR 3,300.
- Candidates still enrolled in a doctoral programme receive a monthly stipend of EUR 2,750.
Fellows are responsible for covering all living costs from this stipend, including travel to and from Vienna, accommodation, health insurance, utilities, local transport, telecommunications, and any research-related expenses (such as books or conference fees).
Fellowships begin on the first day of the first month and end on the last day of the final month of the agreed period.
The IWM provides office space, internet access, research facilities, and administrative support free of charge. Visiting fellows become part of the Institute’s scholarly community and are encouraged to take part in its activities and events.
Eligibility
Applicants must either be currently enrolled in a doctoral programme or have completed their PhD no more than four years before the application deadline (i.e., not earlier than 21 September 2022).
Candidates may submit only one fellowship application to the IWM in any given academic year. Those who have previously held an IWM fellowship must wait three full academic years before applying again.
How to Apply for IWM’s Digital Humanism Fellowship
Applications must be submitted exclusively through the online application form available via the “Apply” button on the official page. Applications sent by email will not be accepted.
Required application materials include:
- A short letter of motivation explaining how the proposed project would benefit from time at the IWM, how it connects to the Institute’s mission and research priorities, and the specific research or writing goals the applicant aims to achieve during the fellowship.
- A concise project description of no more than 550 characters (including spaces).
- A detailed project proposal of no more than 7,500 characters (including spaces). This proposal should cover:
- The project’s main objectives
- An overview of the current state of research on the topic
- The methods to be used
- A clear work plan for the fellowship period
- A curriculum vitae that includes a list of publications.
- Two letters of recommendation from scholars familiar with the applicant’s academic work. These letters must be submitted directly by the recommenders before the deadline. After the application is submitted, recommenders will automatically receive an email containing a link to an online form.
All materials must be written in English. Supporting documents must be combined into a single PDF file, as the online system accepts only one attachment. File names may contain only Latin characters.
Application deadline: 21 September 2026, 23:59 CEST
Apply Here for the IWM Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027: Fully Funded Research Opportunity in Vienna.
Evaluation and Selection
Applications that meet the formal and thematic requirements of the call will be reviewed by a jury of experts. Finalists will be selected by this panel.
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
All applicants will be informed of the decision by email by 30 November 2026. The jury is under no obligation to provide public justifications for its decisions or individual feedback to applicants.
About Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen Institute for Human Sciences (IWM)
The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) is an internationally recognized independent research institute dedicated to advancing scholarship in the humanities and social sciences. Established in Vienna, Austria, in 1982 by Polish philosopher Krzysztof Michalski and two German scholars, the institute was originally created to foster dialogue between independent intellectuals from Eastern Europe and leading academics from Western countries during a period of political division.
Over the years, IWM has grown into a global center for interdisciplinary research and academic collaboration. It brings together scholars, policymakers, and public intellectuals from across the Global North and Global South to exchange ideas, develop innovative research, and address pressing global issues. As a non-partisan institution, IWM provides visiting and resident fellows with an intellectually stimulating environment where they can pursue independent research while engaging with experts from diverse academic backgrounds.
The institute’s research and activities are organized around three core themes: Encounter and Solidarity, Encounters in Democracy, and Encounters with Europe. Through these focus areas, IWM hosts approximately one hundred visiting fellows, senior researchers, and distinguished scholars from around the world each year, encouraging meaningful collaboration and the development of new perspectives.
Beyond supporting academic research, IWM is committed to connecting scholarship with society. The institute regularly organizes lectures, conferences, panel discussions, and public debates while also publishing books, research papers, articles, and digital content that make complex ideas more accessible to broader audiences. By promoting dialogue across disciplines and cultures, IWM seeks to inspire informed public discourse and contribute to the development of open, democratic, and sustainable societies worldwide.
Through its fellowship programs and international partnerships, the Institute for Human Sciences continues to play a leading role in advancing research, encouraging intellectual exchange, and shaping conversations on some of the most significant social, political, and cultural challenges of our time.
Summary for Advancing Human-Centred Digital Research with Digital Humanism Fellowship
The Digital Humanism Fellowship at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, Austria, is a fully funded, 3-month research opportunity for doctoral and postdoctoral scholars. It offers a monthly stipend of €3,300 for postdoctoral researchers or €2,750 for PhD candidates to study the interplay between technology and human values. The application deadline is September 21, 2026.
Core Focus and Scope
- Interdisciplinary Goal: Focuses on how digital technologies influence society, democracy, and human rights rather than just applying digital tools to humanities research.
- Key Research Themes: Trustworthy AI, digital surveillance, algorithmic justice, human-robot interaction, and the geopolitical impacts of a digital world.
- Target Audience: Open to all nationalities and academic disciplines worldwide.
Fellowship Logistics & Funding
- Host Location: Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, Austria.
- Duration: 3-month research residency.
- Postdoctoral Stipend: €3,300 per month.
- Doctoral Stipend: €2,750 per month.
- Provided Facilities: Free office space with internet access, in-house research amenities, and administrative support
Funding Partner
The fellowship is funded by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure of the Republic of Austria.
Kasper Nowak
Fellowship Program Coordinator
Mail: fellowships@iwm.at – Submit Application: Apply Here