Message from the Dean

Dear Students,

As the 2026-2027 Academic Year begins, it is my privilege and pleasure to welcome 90 doctoral students joining ISTA’s Graduate School! As has become tradition, this milestone will be marked by our Welcome Day, a celebration of research and community at ISTA. Through poster presentations and social events, you will have the opportunity to begin exploring the scientific breadth of the Institute and to connect with scientists from different disciplines and backgrounds, as well as other members of ISTA.

The new cohort brings together students from all over the world. You have demonstrated excellence and potential throughout our rigorous selection process, and we are delighted to welcome you to an institute committed to educating the next generation of scientists. ISTA offers a vibrant, international, and interdisciplinary environment set in beautiful natural surroundings, with cutting-edge laboratories and opportunities to engage beyond academia — through technology transfer at ISTA’s XISTA and science education at VISTA.

A new beginning offers opportunities to extend yourselves. The ISTA Graduate School is designed to help you break boundaries. Through your choice of courses and rotations, we encourage you to step outside your comfort zone, explore the interfaces between disciplines, and develop new strengths. Discoveries often happen at these interfaces. Our rotation system makes it possible for you to experience diverse research areas and styles before selecting your PhD project, and our structure offers multiple opportunities to find scientific mentors who will support your work. The philosophy we aspire to is simple: everyone mentors everyone else.

Although you are at the very beginning of your journey, I want to share one insight: time is your most precious resource. Discoveries are hard-won, and a PhD is shorter than it seems at first. I encourage you to take risks, stay curious, think and work hard, and build a community of peers who will sharpen your thinking and support you — scientifically and personally.

On behalf of the graduate school, I wish you all an inspiring and fulfilling start to the year.

Warm regards,

Mario