The ELLIS Unit at ISTA strives for excellence in research and graduate education in machine learning and related fields. We believe that excellence emerges not from rigid planning, but from giving first-class researchers the freedom and resources to pursue curiosity-driven research, while remaining open to a constant influx of new technologies and ideas.
Our research does not revolve around any pre-determined topic. Instead, it is driven by each individual researcher’s curiosity and dedication, held together by two guiding principles: foundational thinking and interdisciplinarity.
- Foundational thinking means we emphasize principled solutions and mathematically rigorous approaches. This is especially important in today’s fast-paced world, where AI, machine learning, and deep learning have become media phenomena as much as scientific disciplines.
- Interdisciplinarity reflects our conviction that machine learning cannot flourish in isolation. It thrives through interaction with other fields, including computer science, mathematics, neuroscience, physics, chemistry, and biology.
At ISTA, our unit is embedded in a world-class research environment, where scientists from all these disciplines work side by side and collaborate daily. By joining the ELLIS network, we not only benefit from its opportunities, but also contribute back—sharing our expertise, experience, and facilities with the broader ELLIS community.
About ISTA
The Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) is a young, publicly funded research institute dedicated to world-class research and graduate education in the natural sciences, life sciences, and mathematics. Located in Klosterneuburg near Vienna, ISTA brings together leading scientists from around the world within a vibrant, international community.
About ELLIS
ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems) is a European grassroots initiative in AI with a focus on scientific excellence, innovation and societal impact. As part of the ELLIS network of excellence, we contribute to advancing human-centered, cutting-edge AI research in Europe while fostering collaboration across disciplines, academia, and society.