The International School for Advanced Studies (Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, known as SISSA) seeks candidates for the position of Director of the School. SISSA is a public University founded in 1978 in Trieste, Italy.Its mission is to perform leading-edge scientific research and to train PhD students and Postdoctoral fellows.SISSA is comprised of about 100 faculty members, 300 PhD students, 100 Postdoctoral fellows, selected master students, about 120 administrative and technical staff.It is organized in the three Areas of Physics, Mathematics, and Neuroscience, plus an Interdisciplinary Laboratory. The faculty and student body are international; the English language is used in teaching, research, and all academic affairs.
The successful candidate is expected to assume the Directorship by November 1, 2027, for a single non-renewable term of 6 years. The Director must be of an academic stature for appointment as a tenured full-time SISSA professor and will be based in Trieste without substantial commitments to other institutions. The appointee will become a full-time professor of SISSA and will remain so after completion of the directorship, though different arrangements are possible, such as returning to a different institution in the case of leave of absence.
The Director will be responsible for:
the academic and financial functions of the School;
the relations of the School with national and local levels of government.
The profile of candidates should include a record of outstanding scientific contributions in Physics, Mathematics, Neuroscience or related fields of science. Candidates with experience in managing major institutional operations, knowledge of the Italian language, familiarity with the Italian university system are particularly encouraged to apply.
Applicants resident abroad might be eligible for a significant reduction in the tax rate applied to the gross salary, according to current Italian regulations.
Inquiries and statements of interest are welcome both from candidates and from those wishing to nominate third parties. Please send statements of interest, or documented nominations to the Search Committee by May 15, 2026 at the latest using the address
The Search Committee:
Prof. Luigi Ambrosio (Scuola Normale Superiore)
Prof. Michela Fagiolini (Harvard Medical School and Istituto di Neuroscienze del CNR)
Prof. Giulia Galli (University of Chicago)
Prof. Giuseppe Legname (SISSA)
Prof. Marcello Porta (SISSA)
Prof. Matteo Viel (SISSA)
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