Author: Silvana

Summer School “Traces of Early Life” (3-13 June 2025 in Stirling, Scotland)

Are you passionate about the origins of life and the search for extraterrestrial life? Join the European Astrobiology Institute’s “Traces of Early Life” Summer School, held from 3rd to 13th June 2025, at the picturesque Stirling University in Scotland. Surrounded by the stunning landscapes of Loch Ness, Ullapool, and Durness, this unique programme offers an immersive opportunity to explore the evolution of early Earth, the origins of life, and cutting-edge methods for detecting ancient lifeforms. Engage with world-leading researchers through lectures, hands-on practical exercises, and a 5-day field excursion to geologically fascinating sites.

The school will include

  • 4 days of lectures
  • excursion to stromatolite sites and other geologically interesting locations a the stunningly beautiful North Coast of Scotland
  • practical exercises
  • poster sessions

Whether you’re a graduate student, early-career scientist, or senior researcher, this summer school provides an exciting platform to expand your knowledge and network with experts in the field. Apply now for an unforgettable experience in one of the world’s most beautiful regions!

See details >>here<<

Application deadline is 1st of March 2025!

Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Microbiology and Palaeobiology (University of Edinburgh, Scotland)

The School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher for an exciting three-year position at the intersection of palaeontology and microbiology. This role focuses on investigating the fossil record of microbial life, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research.

Key Requirements:

  • PhD in palaeontology, Earth sciences, microbiology, or a related field
  • Training and experience in microbiology
  • Strong ability to work independently and in a team
  • Experience in scientific publications and conference presentations

Job Details:

  • Location: James Clerk Maxwell Building, Edinburgh (100% on-campus)
  • Salary: £40,247 – £47,874 per annum (Grade UE07)
  • Contract: Full-time, fixed-term (3 years)
  • Application deadline: March 7, 2025
  • Start date: July 1, 2025

Why Join?

  • Work in a leading research-intensive university
  • Be part of a diverse and dynamic international community
  • Access mentorship, career development, and staff benefits

The University of Edinburgh is an equal opportunity employer and can sponsor international applicants for a Skilled Worker Visa.

For more info and to apply, >>click here<<

PhD Opportunities in Interdisciplinary Space Sciences and Planetary Research in Graz (Austria)

The Young Researcher Program YRP@Graz welcomes applications for PhD positions. YRP@Graz is jointly supported by the Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Graz University of Technology, and the University of Graz.

The application process has two stages with which we aim to decrease selection biases: Stage 1 of the application process is anonymised (submission deadline: March 11th 2025), stage 2 takes the form of an interview.

Excellent candidates with a strong background in natural sciences are welcome to apply. Successful candidates must hold a master’s degree in physics, astrophysics, geoscience, computational chemistry or equivalent at the latest by the starting date of the position but preferably at the time of application. The appointment can begin July 1st 2025, and will aim for a minimum of three years.

The five offered projects are:

Details about the offered projects and the application process can be found here.

International Clay Conference – Call for Abstracts!

The International Clay Conference will take place in Dublin 13-18 July 2025, with both in-person and online attendance options.

One of the sessions, “The Role of Layered Minerals in the Origin of Life – Insights from Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Environments,” may be of interest to our community.

📅 Abstract submission deadline: April 11
🎓 Awards & grants available for travel support
🔬 Workshops & field trips included

For more details and registration, click here

Registrations now open for FALCON: Frontiers in Astrobiology and Origins of Life Conference in Reykjavik (Iceland) 

Registrations are now open for our very first event in collaboration with the Origin of Life Early-career Network (OoLEN):
FALCON: Frontiers in Astrobiology and Origins of Life Conference

What: FALCON: Frontiers in Astrobiology and Origins of Life Conference
Where: University of Iceland (Askja building), Reykjavík, Iceland
When: June 26th to 29th, 2025 (before the BEACON conference, which will be held July 1st to 5th) 

Aimed at early-careers in the fields of astrobiology and origin of life sciences, we will have two full symposium days, interactive workshops, networking opportunities and a day trip in Iceland’s nature!

Click here to register, and check out the event’s page for more info and updates.

🇮🇸We look forward to seeing you soon!🇮🇸

Opportunity at the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern (Switzerland) and ISSI-BJ in Beijing (China)

The International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern (Switzerland) and ISSI-BJ in Beijing (China) invite proposals for establishing International Teams to conduct, at their respective meeting facilities, research in the Space Sciences. To be eligible, research projects must involve the interdisciplinary analysis and evaluation of space mission data. They may also draw on complementary ground-based data and/or theoretical modelling where this adds scientific value. For the purpose of this call, Space Sciences include Astrobiology, Astrophysics and Cosmology, Earth Observation, Fundamental Physics in Space, Magnetospheric and Space Plasma Physics, Planetary Sciences, Solar and Heliospheric Physics, and Solar-Terrestrial Sciences.

Deadline for proposals:
March 13, 2025

The Call for International Team proposals is available on the ISSI website

Opportunities with ESA

Here are a few very relevant ESA announcements for our community:

1. Open Space Innovation Platform – OSIP – Campaign: ‪Investigating Biological and Physical Effects of Radiation” (IBPER)

 The call specifically includes Astrobiology: Exploring the potential for life in extreme environments by simulating space radiation conditions and studying its effects on microorganisms.

The schedule for the IBPER Announcement of Opportunity is as follows:

  • Release the AO – 13th January 2025
  • Letter of Intent –  13th February 2025
  • Virtual Workshop Q&A session: 24th February 2025
  • The link to the conference: Join the meeting now
  • Full proposals deadline – 23rd  March 2025

Investigator’s Workshop at the GSI site in Darmstadt- Fall 2025 (date to be announced)

2. Open call for members in the ESA Life Science Working Group or Physical Sciences Working Group

Open Space Innovation Platform – OSIP – Campaign: ‪Call for Expression of Interest to become a Member of ESA’s Life Sciences Working Group (LSWG) or ESA’s Physical Sciences Working Group (PSWG)‬

The deadline for submission of expressions of interest in response to the present Call is: 28 February 2025 at 23:59 CET

This call is open to Early Career Researchers. Interested persons are invited to contact current or past members of the LSWG (https://scispace.esa.int/working-groups/life-sciences-working-group/) and PSWG (https://scispace.esa.int/working-groups/physical-sciencesworking-group-pswg/) to know more about these committees.

3. CORA Ground-Based Facilities – SciSpacE (continuously open call)

ESA provides access to a variety of ground platforms and gives scientists an opportunity to conduct research necessary to advance knowledge relevant to the effects of space on humans and/or biological life in general, as well as on physical or material science and systems, aiming to enable space exploration.

Exploring Otherness on Earth and Beyond: Bridging the Gap Between Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities – April 9-11 2025 in Berlin, Germany

The upcoming conference, “Exploring Otherness on Earth and Beyond: Bridging the Gap Between Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities,” will take place at Freie Universität Berlin (campus Lankwitz) from April 9 to 11, 2025. This event, funded by the European Astrobiology Institute and the Einstein Foundation, aims to explore the concept of otherness through the lenses of various disciplines and foster a multidisciplinary dialogue.

The conference will feature sessions on:

  • Other Life: Search for alien life
  • Other Worlds: Colonization of the Moon and Mars
  • Other Earth: Alien environments and human catastrophes
  • Philosophical and theological views on otherness
  • Communication science and psychology

With a planned attendance of approximately 50 participants, the conference will include a mix of invited and contributed oral presentations. Participation is by application and invitation, and early registration is recommended. A limited budget is available for partial travel support.

Registration, including abstract submissions, will close on Wednesday February 5 2025. The organizing committee may need to limit participation based on the number of applications. Registered participants will be notified about their status shortly after the registration deadline.

The full conference announcement is available >>here<<.

The conference is organized by members of an Einstein circle in collaboration with the European Astrobiology Institute. For any inquiries, please contact Christoph Gross.

FALCON: Frontiers in Astrobiology and Origins of Life Conference in Reykjavik, Iceland 

✨ Seasons Greetings ✨

We are excited to announce our very first event in collaboration with the Origin of Life Early-career Network (OoLEN):
FALCON: Frontiers in Astrobiology and Origins of Life Conference

Taking place in Reykjavik (Iceland🌋) on June 26-29 2025, this meeting will precede the BEACON conference.

At the moment, we are asking all interested people to record their interest by filling out this form.

🇮🇸We look forward to seeing you soon!🇮🇸

PhD position: Novel Biosignatures for Microfossil Interpretation (Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland)

The ProtoSigns Lab in the School of Chemical Sciences at Dublin City University is seeking a motivated PhD student to explore novel biosignatures for microfossil interpretation as part of an ERC-funded project.

📌 What is offered:
✅ Fully funded 4-year PhD (€25K/year stipend)
✅ Fieldwork opportunities
✅ Cutting-edge facilities & international collaborations
✅ Mentorship from leading experts
✅ Training and career development

📅 Apply by: 31 Jan 2025
📧 Email: sean(.)jordan(@)dcu(.)ie
For more info on the project, click >here<