Year 2022
No. 1 PhD Student in Space Research within Atmospheric Science. Kiruna, Sweden
The Luleå University of Technology is looking for an enthusiastic PhD student to help with research in asteroids, comets and meteorites at Kiruna Space Campus. The 4-year, full-time position is supported by the Swedish National Space Agency. For more information see:
Reference 4691-2021
Last day of application: January 31, 2022
No. 2 PhD Studentships at AstrobiologyOU
CENTA funded PhD are being offered in the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences.
Microbial survival in the Makgadikgadi Basin, Botswana
See how to apply for more details on the process.
The deadline for EEES ones is 7th January 2022 and the SPS is 21st January 2022.
No. 3 Life at the limits – algal physiology under extreme conditions
This project will characterise the limits of life in cryophilic algae by studying how the growth, physiology and metabolic traits are altered in low pressure and low-temperature environmental chambers.
Supervisors:
Matthew Davey Scottish Association for Marine Science matt.davey@sams.ac.uk www.sams.ac.uk/people/researchers/davey-dr-matthew/
Charles Cockell School of Physics and Astronomy – Institute for Condensed Matter Physics and Complex Systems C.S.Cockell@ed.ac.uk www.ph.ed.ac.uk/people/charles-cockell
E4 supervisors are happy to hear from candidates who would wish to adapt the project to their own ideas and research background.
Apply by Thu Jan 06, 2022, at 12:00
No. 4 INPhINIT INCOMING PhD Fellowships at the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE)
Description: The Institute of Space Sciences (ICE, CSIC) in Bellaterra (near Barcelona) announces the opportunity to apply for PhD fellowships within the Framework of the ‘la Caixa’ Foundation Doctoral INPhINIT – Incoming.
In Spain, the program seeks to attract the best young researchers willing to pursue PhD studies in STEM disciplines at research centers accredited with the Spanish Seal of Excellence Severo Ochoa, Maria de Maeztu. The INPhINIT fellowships offer a highly competitive salary and complementary training opportunities making these fellowships some of the most attractive and complete in Europe.
ICE is formed by over 80 members, and it is part of the CSIC, the Spanish Research Council. CSIC is the largest public institution dedicated to research in Spain and the third-largest in Europe. ICE it is accredited with the Spanish Seal of Excellence Maria de Maeztu and currently offers the following projects within the INPhINIT program:
Active black holes in dwarf galaxies
Cosmology ensuing from machine learning
Early stages in planetary accretion from the study of chondritic meteorites
Gravitational Waves from Binary Black Holes with Intermediate Mass Ratios
Hybrid simulations of pulsar wind nebulae
On the formation of star and planetary systems in magnetized dense molecular environments
Simulating the Universe to exploit large cosmological surveys
Application procedure
Applications should be directly submitted to ´la Caixa´ Foundation through the INPhINIT-INCOMING link. Further information and documentation is available here.
Inquiries about the program and submission application can be directed to fellowships@fundacionlacaixa.org
Inquiries about ICE can be sent to ice@csic.es Deadline: 27/01/2022 at 2PM (Madrid)
No. 5 Opportunities for PhD research in planetary science
The Solar System and Exoplanet Habitability research group at the University of Chicago (sseh.uchicago.edu) is mentored by Associate Professor Edwin Kite (geosci.uchicago.edu/~kite). We study solar system and exoplanet habitability. Applications are encouraged from prospective graduate students who would like to pursue research in one or more of the following areas:
- Paleoclimate modeling for Mars (e.g. global circulation models, hydrologic models).
- Mars rover operations and science (Kite is a Participating Scientist on the Curiosity rover).
- Mars data analysis (both orbiters and rovers).
- Early Mars – geologic proxies for paleoclimate (e.g. paleohydrology).
- Theoretical modeling for small-radius exoplanets, e.g. abiotic false positives for biosignatures, and James Webb Space Telescope data analysis for hot rocky exoplanets.
- Terraforming.
For more information about possible projects, please email Edwin Kite (PI): kite@uchicago.edu.
Graduate students receive full financial support including tuition, health insurance, and a salary. Prospective graduate students should apply through the Department of Geophysical Sciences:
https://geosci.uchicago.edu/prospective_students/
The deadline for applications is 19 December, 2022.
No. 6 3 PhD positions at the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC)
The Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) offers 3 PhD positions within the framework of the Maria de Maetzu Program and are available within the three generic research lines:
RL1) The fabric of the Universe: Using multi-disciplinary cosmological probes and gravitational waves to understand what the universe is made of and how it evolves. Research areas include extragalactic astronomy, observational and theoretical cosmology, quantum and classical gravity, gravitational waves, and more.
RL2) The extreme Universe: Understanding how matter and fields behave in extreme conditions of density and pressure, gravitational or electromagnetic forces. Research areas include theoretical and observation astrophysics of compact objects, the nuclear matter under extreme conditions, astroparticle physics, high-energy astrophysics, and more.
RL3) From star formation to life: Searching for and characterizing extrasolar Earth-like planets, understanding how they form, and the analogy with our own planetary environment. Research areas include star formation, stellar physics, exoplanet science, solar system (minor objects, planets), Earth observations, and more.
More information on available projects and instructions on how to apply is available HERE
Deadline for applications is July 4th, 2022.
For inquiries about applications, send an email to phdmdm2022@ice.csic.es
No.7 PhD Student in Planetary Science
Kiruna, Sweden
Lulea University of Technology (LTU) is currently looking for enthusiastic PhD students for projects at Kiruna Space Campus. LTU have advertised 3 fully funded positions in Space, Planetary and Atmospheric Sciences. Details can be found at:
Closing date for applications: August 4, 2022
No. 8 Young Researcher Programme YRP @ Graz
As part of its Young Researcher Programme YRP @ Graz, the Austrian Space Research Institute, the Graz University of Technology, and the University of Graz jointly invite applications for PHD STUDENT POSITIONS in interdisciplinary space science and planetary research with the possibility to work also in the field of space instrumentation. The successful candidates will benefit from joint supervision across at least two research groups of these institutions. The offered PhD projects and further information can be found at
We seek excellent students with a strong background in natural sciences. Successful candidates must hold a Master’s degree in physics, astrophysics, geoscience or equivalent or in engineering with focus on space instrumentation at the latest by the starting date of the position, namely in September 2022, but preferably at the time of application. Previous experience on aspects of astrophysics and related fields and a track record of team work will be important criteria for the selection, as will experience in computational coding.To apply for these positions, please use the following link to the anonymised YRP @ Graz application questionary: LINK.
This form includes questions about scientific skills and the candidate’s master thesis/project, and asks for a statement of interest, a scientific proposal, and a statement regarding research integrity. Please, submit the form no later than July 1, 2022. Inquiries about the YRP @ Graz positions should be directed to Prof Dr Christiane Helling (christiane.helling@oeaw.ac.at) or Dr Ruth-Sophie Taubner (ruth-sophie.taubner@oeaw.ac.at).
Year 2021
No. 1 PhD position within the Stellar Formation and Evolution Team at IA (Portugal)
We welcome applications for a PhD scholarship to be hosted within the Stellar Formation and Evolution Team at the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA), Portugal. The scholarship will be funded by the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT).
A full announcement containing the details on the application process can be found at: http://www.iastro.pt/ia/jobDetails.html?ID=144#
The successful applicant will select their PhD work plan from a list of pre-validated projects put forward by members of the Stellar Formation and Evolution Team. Members of the Team take part in a number of international collaborations and have leading roles within the TESS (NASA) Asteroseismic Science Consortium, the PLATO (ESA) and ARIEL (ESA) space mission consortia, as well as within the ESPRESSO (ESO) consortium.
Areas of work for the successful applicant may include:
— Asteroseismic data analysis of solar-like oscillators and/or AF classical pulsators.
— Detailed study of stellar structure and evolution (including convection, mixing processes, and rotation) using asteroseismic data.
— Characterization of stellar populations to inform studies of the formation and evolution of the Milky Way (Galactic archaeology).
Please note the following:
— The call will remain open from the 16th of November 2020 to the 31st of January 2021.
— The estimated starting date is Quarter 3 of 2021.
— The studentship is renewable for up to a maximum of four years (48 months).
— Candidates with diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions should submit (as part of their application) a registration of recognition of their academic degree as well as a registration of the conversion of the respective final grade(s) to the Portuguese grading scale. Instructions can be found through the link above. Bear in mind that this process can take about a month to complete.
For queries, please contact Tiago Campante at tiago.campante@astro.up.pt
No. 2. The School of Physical Sciences at The Open University is inviting applications for full-time PhD studentships for an October 2021 start.
The studentships are funded by a STFC Doctoral Training Partnership and the OU.
Current projects are from astronomy, physics, planetary science to space instrumentation.
Deadline for applications 19 February 2021
Please contact STEM-SPS-PHD@open.ac.uk with any questions about general administration, eligibility, suitability, funding or the nature of the PhD research. PhD administrator Rosa Miller and postgraduate research tutor Konstantin Stefanov will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
For more information go here.
OU are committed to widening participation and awarding PhD studentships to a diverse community of applicants. OU particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups. Equal Opportunity is University policy.
No. 3. PhD position in the field of massive stars and stellar atmospheres
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student (m/f/d) to join the new research We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student (m/f/d) to join the new research group on stellar atmospheres of hot stars at Heidelberg University led by Dr. Andreas Sander and funded by the DFG Emmy Noether Programme “Uncovering the cornerstones of our Universe: Application and Development of Next- Generation Stellar Atmospheres”. The group starts in August 2021 and is located at the Astronomisches Rechen-Institut (ARI).
The initial review of applications will begin on March 29th, 2021. Applications submitted before this date will receive full consideration, but late applications will also be accepted until the position is filled. For further information please contact Dr. Andreas Sander via andreas.sander@armagh.ac.uk.
No. 4. RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN COSMIC DUST SCIENCE AT ETH ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
The Astrophysical Dust Group at the Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics (IPA), ETH Zürich, in Switzerland, is looking for two highly motivated candidates to apply for a postdoctoral researcher position or a PhD position, within the framework of the ERC funded project “The heliosphere and the dust: characterisation of the solar and interstellar neighbourhood”.
The projects include cosmic dust data analysis, modelling of the interstellar dust transport through the heliosphere, and applying the results to other astrospheres, and the solar system in the past. For more details and submission of the application, see: PhD position, for a postdoctoral researcher position see here.
Application deadline: March 31, 2021.
For questions (not the application): vsterken [-at-] ethz.ch
No. 5. PhD position in engineering-based planetary science
Location: Münster, Germany
The Precious Space research group at the Institut für Planetologie, Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, is offering a 3-year position with the opportunity to obtain a PhD degree in planetary science, funded at 75% (E13 TV-L) level. The position is to be filled as soon as possible. The Precious Space research group is dedicated to the understanding of planetary surfaces. The team investigations are based on the development of new techniques for instruments onboard spacecraft and for laboratory-based studies. The project of the candidate consists in the development of a new technique to characterize the thermal and compositional properties of planetary surfaces from orbit or in situ. The observational technique will be based on an instrument, and in particular on the image sensor and the associated control electronics.
The activities of the successful candidate will include:
- Selection of COTS technology and implementation of validation activities
- Thermal-vacuum cycling testing of detector and control electronics.
- Testing of the instrument performance and application of the technique to a planetary surface analogue.
- Publications of the performed work in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Requirements:
- Hands-on experience in the design, manufacturing or utilization of technology of the type used in space.
- Hands-on experience in the field of image sensor or detector and associated control electronics is desired.
- Ability to work independently as well as within an interdisciplinary team.
- A university master’s degree in physics or electronics engineering.
- Good written and spoken English. German knowledge is desired but not a requisite.
Applications should include a CV, motivation letter, assessment reports for previous projects (e.g. bachelor and master’s theses), academic transcripts, and contact details for two referees. Documents are to be sent in a single PDF format to the electronic address below. Review of the applicants’ documents will start 10 April 2021 and will continue until the position has been filled.
Email: ottaviano.ruesch@uni-muenster.de
Web Page: https://www.uni-muenster.de/en/
No. 6. Understanding noble gases in the context of mantle dynamics
A PhD opportunity (starting late September 2021) is available in the Geodynamics Group of Prof. J. Huw Davies at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Cardiff University, Wales. This studentship is linked to the NERC Large Grant led by Cardiff, on “Mantle Circulation Constrained, (MC2): A multidisciplinary 4D Earth framework for understanding mantle upwellings”.
The projects is: Understanding noble gases in the context of mantle dynamics with Huw Davies, Don Porcelli (Univ. Oxford), Morten Andersen (Cardiff Univ.)
Project details can be found here: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/?p125371
Application deadline is 26th April, 2021.
No. 7. PhD programme in Astrophysics at the Bologna University
The Department of Physics and Astronomy (DIFA) of the University of Bologna and the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) invite applications for their joint PhD Course in Astrophysics: 10 positions (all with scholarships) are available this year.
All the necessary information can be found here.
The list of the available PhD projects can be found and downloaded at the page:
The candidates admitted to the oral interview will be requested to express their preferences among these projects.
PLEASE NOTE that complete applications must be received by May 21, 2021 (12:00am, noon, Italian time). The student selection will be performed in June 2021. The successful students will start their activity on November 1st, 2021.
Contact information:
Francesco R. Ferraro
Coordinator of the PhD Course in astrophysics
University of Bologna, email: francesco.ferraro3@unibo.it
No. 8. 4 Fully-funded PhD positions, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow
- Funding: EPSRC.
- Start: October 2021 or October 2022
- Duration: 3.5 years
- Deadline: 31 May 2021.
Apply: select “Mathematics” and choose one of the following projects
Project 1. Observationally-constrained 3D convective spherical models of thesolar dynamo (Solar MHD)
Project 2. Magnetic helicity as the key to dynamo bistability (Geo/General MHD)
Project 3. Force balances in planetary cores and atmospheres (Planetary MHD)
Project 4. Stellar atmospheres and their magnetic helicity fluxes. (Stellar MHD)
The Magnetohydrodynamics and Dynamo Theory group of the School invites strong applications .
- Dr Radostin Simitev, orcid.org/0000-0002-2207-5789
- Dr David MacTaggart, orcid.org/0000-0003-2297-9312
- Dr Robert Teed, orcid.org/0000-0003-2831-3116
- Dr Simon Candelaresi, orcid.org/0000-0002-7666-8504.
No. 9. The Space Magnetism Area – INTA (Spain) is offering a 4 years duration PhD grant within the frame of its Planetary Magnetism Unit.
The Planetary Magnetism Unit, part of the Space Magnetism Area of INTA, is looking for motivated candidates with a Masters degree in Physics (preferred) or Engineering (Telecommunication or Civil engineering-oriented towards instrumentation) or similar background willing to work on space instrumentation topics.
The project will be developed at the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA – Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial), a Public Research Organization that depends on the Spanish Ministry of Defense. INTA is responsible for performing scientific research activities and prototype development, as well as providing technological services to companies in the industry, universities and other institutions. INTA specializes dually in technological research and development in aerospace, aeronautics, hydrodynamics, and in security and defence technologies.
The grant is to be developed at the Planetary Magnetism Unit part of the Space Magnetism Area of INTA. The Space Magnetism Area leads and develops international projects such as AMR, a project for the development of a magnetometer to be placed on the surface of Mars; or MAGMA, a project for the adaptation of payload and platform, which has mounted vector magnetometers onboard RPAs, and performs the exploitation of the scientific operation of the instruments. The activities of the Planetary Magnetism Unit include conception, design, development, optimization and calibration of magnetic instrumentation for space applications such as planetary exploration. This Unit also maintains a line of research and development of new instrumentation to improve the compositional and structural interpretation of surface rocks in planetary exploration missions. In this line, the Unit participates in campaigns of terrestrial analogues of Mars and the Moon.
The proposed tasks for this grant are framed within this line and are specifically focused on: i) Construction of instrumentation based on unit designs; ii) Calibration methods; iii) Optimization of instruments; iv) Investigation of meteorites with the developed instrumentation; v) Physical interpretation of complex susceptibility measures.
The candidates interested in this offer are welcome to send an email attaching their CV and/or any doubts concerning the offer to Marina Diaz Michelena (diazma@inta.es).
The position is open until the 22nd of October 2021, but can be extended if no suitable candidate is found. In the process, equal treatment will be ensured for all candidates (despite their gender, race, nationality, etc). The funding will be granted once the candidate is selected. All activities will be hosted at the INTA facilities, in Torréjon de Ardoz, Madrid.
No. 10 International Max Planck Research School for Solar System Science
at the University of Göttingen (http://www.solar-system-school.de)
Call for applications: IMPRS PhD Positions in Solar System Science in Göttingen, Germany
https://www.mps.mpg.de/phd/applynow
The International Max Planck Research School for Solar System Science at the University of Göttingen in Germany (Solar System School) offers a research-oriented doctoral programme covering the physical aspects of Solar system science. It is jointly run by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) and the University of Göttingen.
Research at the MPS covers three main research areas: ”Sun and Heliosphere”, ”Solar and Stellar Interiors” and ”Planets and Comets”. Solar System School students collaborate with leading scientists in these fields and graduates are awarded a doctoral degree from the renowned University of Göttingen or, if they choose, another university.
The Solar System School is open to students from all countries and offers an international three-year PhD programme in an exceptional research environment with state-of-the-art facilities on the Göttingen Campus. Successful applicants will be offered a three-year doctoral support contract as well as post-doc wrap-up funding. The language of the structured graduate programme is English, with German language courses offered (optional). The programme includes an inspiring curriculum of scientific lectures and seminars as well as advanced training workshops and provides a relocation cost subsidy and travel funds to attend international conferences.
Applicants to the Solar System School should have a keen interest in Solar system science and a record of academic excellence. They must have, or must be about to obtain, an M.Sc. degree or equivalent in physics, earth sciences or a related field, including a written Masters thesis, and must document a good command of the English language.
* Applicants can register immediately at the online application portal.
* Applications should be submitted between September 1 and November 1.
* The School will contact the referees named by the candidate upon submission of the application, and will ask referees to submit their letters through the online portal no later than November 10.
To start your application, please see the following pages:
Solar System School http://www.solar-system-school.de
Call for Applications 2021 https://www.mps.mpg.de/phd/applynow
Frequently Asked Questions https://www.mps.mpg.de/phd/faq
List of Open PhD Projects https://www.mps.mpg.de/phd/open-projects
Online Application Portal https://www.application.mps.mpg.de/
Dr. Sonja Schuh <info@solar-system-school.de>
IMPRS Scientific Coordinator
Year 2020
No 1. IMPRS PhD Positions in Solar System Science in Göttingen, Germany. Deadline – 1 November 2020. The full announcement of the position as well as the detailed instructions on how to apply can be found here:
https://www.mps.mpg.de/phd/applynow
No 2. PhD position in the KU Leuven to work on bridging the payload development activities with science activities of the PLATO mission. The deadline for sending in the applications is October 15th 2020; the starting date is flexible, preferably not later than 01/01/2021. The full announcement of the position as well as the detailed instructions on how to apply can be found here:
https://fys.kuleuven.be/ster/vacancies/vacancies#PhD_PLATO
No 3. PhD sholarship/position in Poznań. Submission of documents: 27 July – 24 August 2020. Before submission of any required documents please contact Edyta Podlewska-Gaca via e-mail: edypod@editaamu.edu.pl. The full announcement of the position as well as the detailed instructions on how to apply can be found here:
No 4. PhD position in the recently established ‘Theory and Observations of Stars’ (TOS) group at the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) / University of Heidelberg (https://www.h-its.org/research/tos/) . The deadline November 10, 2020.
The successful candidates will work on projects to further understand the internal structure of red-giant stars using asteroseismology.
PhD candidates can apply via the following link: https://www.imprs-hd.mpg.de/ .
