ISTA PhD program

The goal of the ISTA PhD program is to produce intellectually broad, curious, open-minded scientists who are able to approach problems from different angles and can collaborate with diverse types of scientists. To this end, our students complete an innovative interdisciplinary training program consisting of both research and taught elements, and receive close mentoring by world-class faculty from different disciplines.

All students whose broad research interests align with those of our faculty are eligible to join the ISTA PhD program. Students confirm their affiliation and their thesis supervisor at the end of the first year. In the first year, students complete coursework and rotations in three different research groups.

After finding a suitable home within a research group(s) and thereby securing a thesis supervisor(s), and importantly after passing the qualifying examination, students work on their thesis research, attend international conferences and colloquia, and receive training in teaching and other transferable skills. Research groups are deliberately kept small to ensure close supervision, and all students are mentored by several faculty members who make up their thesis committee.

All students are offered 5-year employment contracts. Students can finish their program earlier – in 4 or 4.5 years – or ask for a year-long contract extension, depending on the nature of the research. All students making reasonable progress are fully funded until the time of their thesis defense.