International collaboration is crucial for the training and networking of researchers. The goal of JESH is therefore to foster cooperation between colleagues from abroad and scholars in Austria.
The Austrian Academy of Sciences’ Joint Excellence in Science and Humanities (JESH) programme is a mobility scheme offering substantial support for excellent scholars in all fields of research at an early stage of their scientific career. JESH offers an incoming programme for researchers from 61 different target countries as well as an outgoing programme for Austrian researchers.
Objectives
Scholarships funded within the framework of JESH aim to significantly reinforce the research landscape in the respective target country. JESH scholars act as catalysts for mutual “brain circulation” between Austria and the target country.
Target group
Applications are invited from early career researchers who completed their doctorate/PhD studies no more than 10 years ago and are affiliated with a university or non-university research institution in one of the target countries (JESH Incoming) or Austria (JESH Outgoing). Successful applicants are expected to return to their home institution upon completion of their JESH scholarship.
Only one application may be submitted per person.
Target countries
Host institutions in Austria (JESH Incoming)
All institutes and departments at Austrian public universities, the Austrian Academy of Sciences and publicly funded research institutions are eligible to act as host institutes for JESH Incoming.
Host institutions in the target countries (JESH Outgoing)
All institutes and departments at public universities, the national academies of sciences and publicly funded research institutions are eligible to act as host institutes for JESH Outgoing.
Extent and duration of funding
JESH covers travel, accommodation and living expenses for a research stay of at least 1 month and a maximum of 6 months. Other expenses or overheads are not covered.
Accommodation and living expenses are paid at a flat rate of EUR 2,700 per month.
Research stays should begin no later than 6 months after the positive selection decision. The first stays may start in early 2026.
Payment
Payments are made in monthly instalments to a personal bank account of the scholar. A bank account in the Eurozone is highly recommended. Transfers to accounts outside the Eurozone are subject to fees which will reduce the funding.
It is not possible to receive a payment before the research stay starts.
Submission of a report
A final report including a statement by the host institution must be submitted by email no later than two months after the completion of the research stay. The document must be sent to jesh.application(at)oeaw.ac.at.
JESH scholars and their hosts are requested to provide information on the impact of the JESH scholarship for evaluation purposes.
Further conditions
Applicants are entitled to apply to other (funding) bodies. However, such applications and their outcome must be disclosed by sending an email to jesh.application(at)oeaw.ac.at.
Scholars who fail to adhere to the conditions of JESH will be required to pay back their funding.
Amount of funding
EUR 2,700 per month
Duration of funding
1-6 months
Submission deadline
September 16, 2025
Contact
jesh.application(at)oeaw.ac.at