YSSP - Young Scientists Summer Program

Every summer since 1977, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) has hosted up to 50 doctoral students from around the world in its three-month long Young Scientist Summer Program (YSSP). 

The YSSP is designed for advanced PhD students – ideally about two years prior to completing their PhD – working on a topic that is compatible with ongoing research at IIASA and who wish to explore the policy implications of their work. Participants work under the direct mentorship of experienced IIASA scientists in a unique interdisciplinary and international research environment. As part of their participation, YSSP fellows produce a paper serving as the first step towards a publishable journal article, and have the opportunity to build up contacts for future collaboration within the institute's worldwide network.

The 2026 YSSP will run on-site from 1 June to 28 August 2026, and participants will have the opportunity to finalize their research papers in September 2026.