15 PhD positions in Planetary Exploration

Are you passionate about planetary exploration? Do you want to contribute to a flagship ESA Astrobiology mission? Would you like to join the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Mission science team in the search for life on Mars? This is a unique opportunity to launch your career in planetary science and space research.

15 PhD positions of the EXODOCS Doctoral Network are published on EURAXESS: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/432752

These positions are distributed across leading European institutions in planetary science and space research, offering cutting-edge training and direct involvement in ExoMars-related science and operations.

Application deadline: 31 May 2026

www.exodocs.eu

List of Doctoral Candidate (DC) positions:

  • DC1: Optimizing the Scientific Return of Close-Up Cameras for Mars Exploration (Technical University of Munich, Germany);
  • DC2: Automated Analysis of Martian Surface Clasts and Regolith Using Imaging Instruments (Open University, United Kingdom);
  • DC3: Optimizing Mineral Identification Using Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) spectrometry (University College London, United Kingdom);
  • DC4: Multi-Scale Target Prediction for Mars Exploration Using AI Methods (German Aerospace Center, Germany)
  • DC5*: 3D Mapping of the Surface and Subsurface Using WISDOM (GPR) (University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France);
  • DC6: Comparative Analysis and Optimization of Spectrometers for Mars Exploration (Universidad de Valladolid, Spain);
  • DC7: Monitoring the dehydration of drill tailings from Martian subsurface sampling (University College London, United Kingdom);
  • DC8**: Monitoring the alteration of drill cores from Martian subsurface sampling (LSU, Italy);
  • DC9*: Developing Quantification Methods for Mineral Analysis Using Raman and NIR Spectroscopies (Université Paris-Saclay, France);
  • DC10: Developing a Polarimetric Radargram Library for Subsurface Analysis with GPR (Technische Universität Dresden, Germany);
  • DC11: Optimization of GC-MS procedures for Organic Detection on Mars (University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France);
  • DC12: Novel solutions to Discriminate Biominerals from Abiotic Equivalents (Université Paris Cité, France);
  • DC13**: Developing Spectral Analysis Tools for Trace Organic Detection and Biosignature recognition in Geological Mixtures (Sapienza University of Rome, Italy);
  • DC14: Investigating Organic-Mineral Interactions for Biosignature Detection Using Spectroscopic Techniques (Universidad de Valladolid, Spain);
  • DC15: Enhancing Cooperative Spectroscopic Analysis for Biosignature Detection on Mars (Université Paris-Saclay, France);

* The candidate will be hired by UVSQ, but the PhD degree will be awarded by UPS.
** The candidate will be hired by LSU, while INAF (Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Rome) will act as the hosting institute.