Apply for Digital Humanism Fellowship Program 2026-2027

The Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowship 2027 supports doctoral candidates and early-career postdoctoral researchers to conduct research on Digital Humanism at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, Austria. Selected fellows receive a three-month research residency, access to academic facilities, and a monthly stipend of up to EUR 3,300 for postdoctoral researchers and EUR 2,750 for doctoral candidates.

Overview of the Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowship

The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM), Vienna is inviting applications for the Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowship to support researchers exploring the relationship between technology, society, and human values.

The fellowship provides researchers with an opportunity to spend three months at IWM to advance research related to Digital Humanism, an interdisciplinary field examining how digital technologies influence individuals, societies, economies, and global systems.

The programme encourages research that investigates how technological development can align with:

• Human rights.
• Social wellbeing.
• Democratic values.
• Ethical principles.
• Human-centred innovation.

Purpose of the Fellowship

The fellowship aims to:

• Support innovative research on Digital Humanism.
• Encourage interdisciplinary approaches to digital transformation.
• Create dialogue between technology, humanities, and social sciences.
• Explore the social and political consequences of digitalisation.
• Promote technology development that respects human values.

What Is Digital Humanism?

Digital Humanism examines the relationship between:

• Technology.
• Human beings.
• Society.

It focuses on understanding and shaping digital transformation while ensuring that technological progress contributes to a fair and sustainable society.

Digital Humanism explores questions such as:

• How does digital technology affect human rights?
• How should societies respond to artificial intelligence and automation?
• How can technology support social inclusion?
• How can digital systems remain accountable and ethical?

Important Research Scope

The fellowship welcomes research on:

• Digitalisation and society.
• Digital economies.
• Geopolitical impacts of technology.
• Technology governance.
• Digital ethics.
• Human rights in the digital age.
• Social impacts of emerging technologies.
• Technology and democratic systems.

Research Areas Not Covered

The programme does not focus on traditional Digital Humanities projects.

Applications will not be considered if they only involve:

• Applying digital tools to humanities research.
• Using technology as a research method without examining broader digital transformation issues.

The fellowship is focused on understanding the wider relationship between technology and humanity.

Fellowship Duration and Location

Selected fellows will complete a:

Three-month residential fellowship

Location:

Institute for Human Sciences (IWM), Vienna, Austria

Fellowship period:

Between February and June 2027

The fellowship will overlap with the residency period of the Senior Digital Humanism Visiting Fellow, allowing opportunities for academic exchange and collaboration.

Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows will receive:

Research Facilities

IWM provides:

• Office space.
• Internet access.
• In-house research facilities.
• Administrative support.

Academic Community Access

Fellows become part of the IWM scholarly community and can participate in:

• Research discussions.
• Academic events.
• Institute activities.
• Knowledge-sharing opportunities.

Financial Support

The fellowship provides a monthly stipend to cover living and research expenses.

Postdoctoral Researchers

Eligible postdoctoral fellows receive:

EUR 3,300 per month

Doctoral Candidates

Eligible doctoral fellows receive:

EUR 2,750 per month

The stipend covers expenses including:

• Travel costs.
• Accommodation.
• Health insurance.
• Utilities.
• Local transportation.
• Telecommunications.
• Research materials.
• Literature purchases.
• Conference fees.

Who Is Eligible?

The fellowship is open to researchers from:

• All academic disciplines.

Applicants must be either:

• Doctoral candidates enrolled in a PhD programme, or
• Postdoctoral researchers who have completed their PhD.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Academic Status

Applicants must:

• Be enrolled in a doctoral programme, or
• Hold a PhD obtained no earlier than 21 September 2022.

Research Alignment

The proposed project must:

• Address Digital Humanism themes.
• Connect with IWM’s mission and research priorities.
• Explore technology’s relationship with society and human values.

Previous Fellowship Restrictions

Applicants:

• Cannot submit multiple fellowship applications within the same academic year.
• Must wait two academic years before applying again if they previously received a resident IWM fellowship.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following documents:

Motivation Letter

The motivation letter should explain:

• Why the project would benefit from time at IWM.
• How the research connects with IWM’s mission.
• Planned research or writing objectives during the fellowship.

Project Description

Applicants must provide:

• A brief project description of up to 550 characters.

The description should clearly explain the research focus.

Research Proposal

Applicants must submit a proposal of up to:

7,500 characters

The proposal should include:

• Research objectives.
• Current state of research.
• Research methods.
• Work plan.
• Expected outcomes.

Curriculum Vitae

Applicants must provide:

• Academic CV.
• Publication list.

Recommendation Letters

Applicants must submit:

• Two letters of recommendation.

The letters must be:

• Submitted directly by the recommenders.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Check that you:

• Are a doctoral candidate or eligible postdoctoral researcher.
• Have a research project connected to Digital Humanism.
• Meet previous fellowship restrictions.

Step 2: Prepare Research Materials

Prepare:

• Motivation letter.
• Project description.
• Research proposal.
• CV with publications.
• Two recommendation letters.

Step 3: Submit Application

Submit all required materials according to the fellowship application guidelines.

Ensure that:

• Documents meet length requirements.
• Recommendation letters are submitted correctly.
• Research objectives are clearly explained.

Why It Matters

Digital technologies are transforming societies, economies, and political systems worldwide.

Research in Digital Humanism helps address important questions about:

• Ethical technology development.
• Digital rights.
• Artificial intelligence governance.
• Social impacts of innovation.
• Human-centred digital futures.

The fellowship supports researchers working to ensure technology serves society while protecting human dignity and fundamental values.

Common Application Mistakes and Tips

Common Mistakes

Applicants should avoid:

• Submitting projects focused only on digital tools.
• Failing to connect research with Digital Humanism.
• Providing unclear research objectives.
• Ignoring IWM’s research mission.
• Missing document requirements.

Application Tips

Applicants should:

• Clearly explain the human and social impact of their research.
• Highlight interdisciplinary connections.
• Demonstrate how IWM residency will strengthen the project.
• Provide a realistic research plan for the three-month period.
• Explain why Vienna and IWM are important for the research.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowship?

It is a research fellowship that supports doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers studying the relationship between technology, society, and human values.

2. Where does the fellowship take place?

The fellowship takes place at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, Austria.

3. How long is the fellowship period?

Selected researchers spend three consecutive months at IWM between February and June 2027.

4. How much financial support do fellows receive?

Postdoctoral researchers receive EUR 3,300 per month, while doctoral candidates receive EUR 2,750 per month.

5. Can researchers from any discipline apply?

Yes. The fellowship is open to applicants from all academic disciplines if their research relates to Digital Humanism.

6. Are Digital Humanities projects eligible?

No. Projects that only apply digital tools to humanities research are not eligible.

7. What documents are required for application?

Applicants must submit a motivation letter, project description, research proposal, CV with publications, and two recommendation letters.

Conclusion

The Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowship 2027 offers researchers a valuable opportunity to advance interdisciplinary work on the social, ethical, and human dimensions of digital transformation. Through research support, academic exchange, and financial assistance, the fellowship helps develop solutions that ensure technology evolves in alignment with human rights, dignity, and societal wellbeing.