FWF-ASTRA Awards
Highly endowed career support for established postdocs in Austria: The FWF-ASTRA Awards support internationally visible scientists in carrying out long-term top research projects and in building a profile for an academic leadership position. Submission from 15.07.2024, unlimited submissions possible.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The FWF-ASTRA Awards provide outstanding researchers with the framework conditions to conduct long-term research projects at an internationally top level, to consolidate their own research profile, and thereby qualify for an academic leadership position. In addition, new research fields and approaches are to be developed, internationally visible scientists retained and attracted, and women in science in particular are to be promoted.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs
- Equipment costs
- Material costs
- Travel expenses
- Coaching and personnel development measures
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Eligible to apply
- Public Institutions
- Educational Institutions
Funding requirements
- PhD completed between 2 and a maximum of 9 years ago (exceptions possible for career breaks)
- Independent scientific work conducted (e.g., third-party funding, research stays abroad, publications)
- No permanent professorship or equivalent leadership position
- Maximum of two applications per person in the ASTRA program
- Publication record of the last five years internationally visible and peer-reviewed
Documents required for application
- Proposal (project description including appendices 1–4)
- Scientific abstract (English)
- Publication list of the last five years
- PI publication (2 publications)
- Alternative project plan
- Scientific curriculum vitae
- Career plan with support statement
- elane forms
Evaluation criteria
- Qualification of the project leader
- Degree of innovation and novelty
- Scientific quality and relevance
- Research approach and feasibility
- Ethical as well as sex/gender-relevant aspects
- Institutional support and career development
- Overall evaluation (strengths/weaknesses)
Description
The FWF-ASTRA Awards offer established postdoctoral researchers in Vienna a highly endowed career support to realize long-term, top-level research projects of international standing. From July 15, 2024, research institutions in Vienna can continuously submit applications for funding amounts ranging from €500,000 to €1,000,000 for a period of five years. The aim is to enable outstanding, internationally visible scientists from all disciplines—including artistic-scientific research—to make the leap into an academic leadership position. A scientific evaluation through an international peer-review process forms the basis for this. A jury invites selected candidates to hearings, on the basis of which the FWF Board of Trustees determines the awardees. Special attention is given to the visibility of women in science: 50% of the awards are reserved for them, complemented by tenure packages, coaching, networking, and childcare allowances.
Funding covers personnel costs (including for the project leaders’ own positions), equipment, materials, travel, coaching and personnel development measures, as well as service contracts and research data management. Project partners in developing countries can be financed through “other costs.” Applicants must hold a doctoral degree obtained at least 2 and at most 9 years prior, without a permanent professorship or leadership position, and demonstrate independent scientific work through peer-reviewed publications, third-party funding, or stays abroad. The five-year project duration provides the framework to sharpen the profile, develop new research approaches, and lay the foundation for a professorship or equivalent leadership role. All application documents, including project description, abstract, CV, career plan, and publication records, must be submitted in English via the FWF application portal.
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