CNIT Lab

Open Positions – Starting Fall 2026

We are looking for talented and motivated individuals to join our lab starting in Fall 2026. If you are interested in any of the positions below, please contact us.

  • Postdoctoral Researcher

    We welcome inquiries from motivated researchers to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in chemistry, materials science, or a related field, and a passion for creative research.

    Express Interest

  • Graduate Research Assistant

    Interested in joining the CNIT Lab as a PhD student? Applications are handled through the ISTA Graduate School. Application deadline for the yearly call is usually in January to start in the following Fall. We welcome students from diverse backgrounds who are driven by organic chemistry and molecular design, and those excited to translate molecular function into polymers, soft matter, and adaptive materials.


    To get an idea about future projects, check out the research section and recent publications.


    Below you can find some publications that highlight the conceptual space we are interested in:


    • Small-molecule mechanistic insight: Multistate Photoswitch based on DASA
    • Ordered polymers and adaptive mechanics: Multistate LCE through polymer stress
    • Systems-level control of material responses: Selective responses through non-selective stimuli


    If you do not have access to any of these articles please feel free to contact Fritz.

    If you are excited about our work, mention your interest in the CNIT Lab in your application and feel free to reach out with questions!

    Questions & Inquiries

  • Research Intern

    We offer internship opportunities through the ISTernship program and thesis projects for bachelors or masters students who are interested in gaining hands-on research experience. Interns will work closely with lab members on various projects. We are not considering applications before Fall 2026.

    Questions & Inquiries

Postdoctoral Fellows

We are happy to support outstanding postdoctoral candidates in applying for fellowships and external funding. If you are interested in joining the lab as a postdoc at ISTA, please contact Friedrich Stricker with your CV and a brief description of your research interests.

We are enthusiastic about supporting applications for relevant postdoctoral fellowships and are open to creative, interdisciplinary proposals!

Potential Funding Sources for Postdocs

PhD & Student Funding

Undergraduate & Research Internships

ISTA is an international research institute in Austria. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to diversity and inclusion. If you have questions about eligibility or funding, please reach out!