Vienna University of Technology - Ressel award

Ressel Award of TU Wien

For an outstanding doctoral thesis at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), you will receive 13,000 EUR and a certificate. The amount is divided as follows: 11,000 EUR goes to the institute that carried out the research project and supervised your doctoral thesis. This portion is earmarked for your future research, for example for stays abroad, conference travel or the purchase of equipment. The remaining 2,000 EUR are at your disposal. If you are employed at TU Wien, you may instead use the entire amount of 13,000 EUR for your further research. The Rector of TU Wien awards the prize once a year.

Who can apply

• Degree: You have completed a PhD programme at the Vienna University of Technology.
• Supervision: A lecturer at the Vienna University of Technology supervised your final thesis.
• Type of research: Your dissertation is directly linked to interdisciplinary research that was funded by external grants and carried out in collaboration with companies.
• Timing: You finished your thesis no more than 1 year before the nomination.
• Age: You are at the end of the submission period under 35. The duration of parental leave (up to 5 years) can be added to this to raise this upper limit.
• Field of study: All subjects are open, as long as your thesis meets the company-linked research condition.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.

How to apply

You cannot apply yourself. Your supervisor will nominate you and submit the relevant documents to your faculty’s Dean’s Office. Each faculty may nominate only one candidate per year. If you reach the final round, you will present and defend your thesis before a jury chaired by the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, who will decide on the winner.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is very narrowly defined. Your doctoral thesis must be based on industry-related, externally funded research, and each faculty nominates only one candidate per year, so the pool of applicants is small. If your doctoral thesis clearly fits this profile of collaborative research and your supervisor supports you, your prospects are really good. During the final presentation to the jury, a solid, well-documented track record of publications and projects counts for more than a polished presentation.