Author: DominikH

(!!!DEADLINE TOMORROW!!!) Post-doc on Habitable planets, their formation and life emergence

The Wisconsin Center for Origins Research (WiCOR) seeks a postdoctoral fellow to participate in Center research in any discipline related to our two main research questions: 1. How do habitable planets form? 2. How does life emerge on habitable planets?

WiCOR is a multidisciplinary research center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with six member departments and faculty and research staff from across 12 campus units. Join our team as the first WiCOR postdoctoral fellow and become a part of this exciting and impactful work.

The successful Candidate will have a PhD in any scientific field related to WiCOR research (including, but not limited to, astronomy, biology, chemistry, botany, geology, planetary science, and atmospheric and oceanic sciences), will have received a PhD within five years of the appointment start date, and will have no more than 3 years of previous postdoctoral experience.

Candidates should submit a CV, a publication list, a 2 page summary of previous research, and a list of 3 potential letter writers who can be contacted to submit letters of recommendation. Candidates should also submit a statement of research interests (3 pages maximum) that describes their research plans and how their research relates to at least one of the six WiCOR research themes (see http://www.wicor.wisc.edu for more information). In this statement candidates should list at least two WiCOR members with whom they would be interested in collaborating and describe a plan for these collaborations. This position is a one year onsite position renewable for a second year by mutual agreement.

The deadline for application is November 15, 2025. A start date of September 1, 2026 is anticipated, but this date can be negotiated. All application materials should be sent as a single PDF to wicor@wisc.edu.

PhD in Biotechnology and antimicrobial resistance (UK)

Dr Michael Macey is excited to share a new PhD project exploring the secrets hidden within Great Britain’s unique waters with, Michael, and Daniel P Payne, Ilias Kounatidis, Calum McMullen, Tim Goodall and Anne Jungblut. They are delving into the uncharacterised microbiomes of historic and chemically distinct springs across the UK. These heritage sites could be a source for novel bioactive compounds to help tackle the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance.

This studentship offers an opportunity to:

  • Conduct fieldwork at a range of UK heritage sites.
  • Get trained in state-of-the-art chemistry and biology techniques.
  • Screen for microbes and metabolites with the potential to become new medicines.

It’s a blend of natural history, microbiology, and cutting-edge analytical science. A brilliant chance to explore the UK’s hidden biodiversity and contribute to a pressing global challenge.

Deadline: January 7th 2026

Click here for more information.

UKPF Early Career Meeting (United Kingdom), January 9th 2026

Registration and abstract submission is now open for the 19th UK Planetary Forum Early Careers Meeting (ECM), which will be held on Friday 9th January 2026, hosted by the Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck, at the Birkbeck Clore Management Centre, in Bloomsbury, London. The UKPF ECM is designed to bring together early career researchers from across the UK for a day of networking and knowledge sharing. This event provides a supportive environment for early career scientists to present their research to peers and receive constructive feedback, offering valuable preparation for larger, international conferences. Presentations will include both talks and posters, showcasing the diversity of work taking place in planetary science. We welcome contributions from all aspects of planetary science, including but not limited to: planetary surfaces, interiors, atmospheres and magnetospheres, habitability and astrobiology, meteorites, (exo)planets and their moons.

Date: Friday 9th January 2026
Location: Birkbeck Clore Management Centre, Torrington Square, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7JL
Cost: Completely free!
Registration Link: UKPF ECM 2026 Registration Form
Registration deadline: Wednesday 17th December 2025.
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 31st October 2025 (23:59)

Abstract Submission: Please use the abstract template as a guide. Abstracts should be uploaded via the upload link in the registration form. Max. one A4 page only including figures and references. The abstract upload link will open a new tab in your browser window. ​Please ensure you return to the original form to complete your registration.

Attendees are encouraged to join in person, but virtual attendance will also be offered for those unable to travel. For enquiries regarding accessibility, registration or abstract submission, please contact ukpf-ecm-2026@ucl.ac.uk. For more information, check out the meeting page on the UKPF 2026 website.

2 Postdoctoral Research positions – The Open University

The Open University (Milton Keynes, United Kingdom) is recruiting researchers for two postdoctoral positions in the field of planetary science/cosmochemistry.

Applications close at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, 15th October. For more information follow these links:

  1. Postdoc in the field of Primitive Asteroids:

https://jobs.open.ac.uk/job/Post-Doctoral-Research-Associate-Primitive-Asteroids/1050-en_GB

Job listing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4302331461/?capColoOverride=true

  1. Postdoc in the field of Differentiated Meteorites:

https://jobs.open.ac.uk/job/Post-Doctoral-Research-Associate-Differentiated-Meteorites/1062-en_GB

Job listing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4302322720/?capColoOverride=true

Space Factor at EANA in Lisbon, Portugal in October!

We are calling all early-career scientists to participate in the renowned Space Factor contest at The 25th European Astrobiology Network Association (EANA) conference, taking place in Lisbon, Portugal, from 21–24 October 2025, right after our AbGradE symposium.

Showcase your astrobiology research in a dynamic and creative oral presentation among your peers.

Late Master students and early PhD candidates, present your work at Space Factor in a 15-minute pitch including a creative SciComm video.

> More info about Space Factor here. <

Take the challenge and the opportunity to win prizes and be seen in a big audience of astrobiology experts!

Symposium ahead of EANA in Lisbon, Portugal in October!

Registration Open!
AbGradE will organise an adjacent event to the 25th European Astrobiology Network Association (EANA) conference. Both events will take place in person at Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, Portugal, from 21–24 October 2025.

The topic is “Astrobiology: from the Field to the Labs and into Space“, the symposium will therefore encompass every field that is part of astrobiology.

If you do not want to miss this exciting opportunity to share your work, you can find the registration and more information here.

Hope to see you there!

Postdoctoral Fellow – School of Integrated Biology and Chemistry Sciences (Edinburg, Texas, USA)

The Astrobiochemistry Lab (https://eloicamprubi.com/) at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), led by Dr. Eloi Camprubi, is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join by Fall 2025, funded by the National Science Foundation.

Probe the capability of amphiphiles to self-assemble into vesicle compartments and develop a robust methodology for studying their individual and population composition.
Assess if vesicles display generational heredity – allowing for a primitive form of evolution by natural selection.
Custom-made microfluidic setups will be used to enable the precise control and manipulation of vesicle systems constrained to the microliter scale.

Required education:

A Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Chemistry, or related disciplines from an accredited University.

Required experience:

Expertise with vesicle/liposome study and manipulation, including confocal microscopy

Preferred experience:

Experience with microfluidics systems or dynamic mathematical modeling
Experience within the fields of astrobiology and abiogene

Salary

Commensurate with Experience

Get in contact:

📩: careers@utrgv.edu

🌐: careers.utrgv.edu

📞: +1 (956)665-2451 or +1 (956)882-8205

Application deadline: July 31st 2025.

PhD Studentship in Analytical Tools within Contamination in Spacecraft & Satellite Industry (UK)

The Open University (Milton Keynes, UK) would like to advertise the following PhD position:

Development and validation of innovative, near real-time analytical tools to enable mitigation of contamination within cleanrooms of the UK spacecraft & satellite industry.

Open University Supervisory team: Claire Batty; Vic Pearson; Geraint Morgan

Project Highlights: 

  • Opportunity to develop expertise in cutting edge volatile organic compound detection and analysis for contamination detection.
  • Opportunity to develop skills in analytical techniques, contamination control, and materials and process (M&P) protocols within the space sector.
  • This industrial CASE studentship is a collaboration between The Open University (OU) and Airbus Defence and Space Ltd (Airbus DS) providing both academic and industrial research experience.

The aims of this studentship are: 

  1. To identify, profile and catalogue volatile, semi-volatile and surface organic compounds in cleanrooms and understand the influence of VOCs on bonding, and cleaning methodologies.
  2. To develop techniques, in partnership with the Airbus technical team, to help identify individual contamination compounds, and assess risk of silicone contamination vs cure.
  3. To develop analytical strategies to then deal with real time contamination events.
  4. To develop and optimise analytical methods for flight hardware, cleanroom surfaces and air.

Application deadline: August 1st 2025, 5pm GMT

More information about the project and how to apply here.

Conference EANA in Lisbon, Portugal in October!

Registration Open!
The 25th European Astrobiology Network Association (EANA) conference will take place in person at Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, Portugal, from 21–24 October 2025.

Join researchers from across Europe for keynote and contributed talks, the Space Factor contest, and poster sessions. This year’s theme is “Astrobiology: From the Field to the Labs and into Space,” but abstracts from all areas of astrobiology are welcome!

Questions? Contact: eana-conference (at) eana-net.eu

> More info here <

FALCON: Registration deadline soon!!!

Our co-organised FALCON event (26th to 29th of June on Iceland) is only 1 month away! That means that the deadline for registration is very soon, specifically 31st of May (next week)!

If you are planning to come, do not hesitate! Registration to our event can be done by the following link: FALCON registration form

The same deadline (31st of May) applies to the travel grant applications which are still OPEN. Grants are expected to be approximately €200 – 400 (final amount may vary). Our grants are not tied to EAI membership, so you are eligible to apply even if your University is not a member of the EAI. Please send your grant application of no more than 250 words as an attachment (PDF or Word document) to abgrade@eana-net.eu. Please title the email ‘FALCON Travel Grant’ and the attachment ‘Surname_Firstname_FALCON’.

Please include the following:
1. Funds available to you via your lab group/University
2. Your nationality/background
3. Distance you will travel to Iceland
4. Confirm whether you want to do a talk or poster (or neither, i.e. simply attending)

For more information please visit our event page https://abgrade.eu/falcon2025/ or send us a message via email at abgrade@eana-net.eu

We are looking forward to meeting you on Iceland!!!