Category: Job Positions

Postdoctoral Fellow post in Astrobiology (Edinburg, Texas USA)

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has an opening for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Astrobiochemistry Lab. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of astrobiology, planetary science, and sedimentology.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Investigate how biosignatures are affected by riverine dynamics in extraterrestrial environments, specifically targeting Titan and Mars.
  • Determine alterations in chemical and morphological biosignatures due to riverine processes.
  • Examine the influence of sedimentary deposition on biosignature preservation and detectability.
  • Explore the spatial segregation of biosignatures across sedimentary basins to inform current and future space exploration missions.
  • Conduct terrestrial analogy studies to support and validate extraterrestrial research findings.

Ideal start window: September 2024 – January 2025

For more information or to apply, click here.

4 years PhD position at the Center of Astrobiology in Madrid (Spain)

A PhD position is available in the Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Biological Adaptation at the Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA).

Study of the role of queousine nucleoside precursors in resistance to extreme conditions of microbial communities

The thesis project will consist of the study of the function of the queuosine (Q) nucleoside precursors as signaling molecules involved in the stability and resistance to extreme conditions of microbial communities. In our research group we have discovered that the modification of tRNA by Q is a molecular mechanism involved in the regulation of resistance, biofilm formation and virulence in most bacterial species (Díaz-Rullo and González-Pastor, NAR 2023). We have also proposed that Q precursors, produced by some bacterial species, would function as signaling molecules involved in the control of the aforementioned biological processes in other species within the communities. In this thesis project, this hypothesis will be tested experimentally using synthetic communities of Q precursor-producing and non-producing bacteria. In addition, functional metagenomics will be used to search for inhibitors of Q biosynthesis to explore their involvement in microbial communities and their potential applications in biotechnology as antibiofilm and antimicrobial compounds. This research will be funded by the EU HORIZON projects: “BlueTools” (2022-2026) and “EXTREM” (2024-2028), and the National Plan project “METACIRCLE” (2022-2025).

The call for this predoctoral contract will be published on the website of the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (www.inta.es) at the end of July 2024.

Contact: Eduardo González-Pastor

Several PhD positions in astrobiology/space science available in Italy

Some exciting projects are being advertised in several Italian universities!

  1. The following 5 calls can be checked out at this link:
  • Biotechnological Applications of Microalgae for Long-Duration Space Missions (University of Cagliari)
  • Molecular modifications induced by altered gravity in epithelial barrier integrity and evaluation of innovative countermeasures to mitigate its dysfunction (University of Pisa)
  • Human Life Science and Space Medicine – Physiological and biological bases of space adaptations: quantitative approaches (University of Rome Tor Vergata)
  • Space Farming in microgravity (Thales Alenia Space Italia s.p.a. & University of Turin)
  • Astro-Pharmacology: the cure beyond Earth (and better on Earth) (Univeristy of Turin)

2. The following call can be checked out at this link:

A project in geology with astrobiology implications. The project can:

  • follow the Master’s thesis if related to the geo-theme
  • be written following the topics of interest listed in the announcement of the 40th cycle (link above)
  • be written from scratch following the usual project style (state-of-the-art, methodology, objectives, and impact)

The group has an FT-IR spectrometer and a lab where they can make magma.

If you have any questions regarding the second opportunity, you can email Dr. Alessandro Pisello

Research Fellow post in Astrobiology Ethics (Milton Keynes, UK)

The postholder will be welcomed into AstrobiologyOU, an interdisciplinary research group investigating the feasibility of life beyond the Earth, and the associated scientific, governance and ethical implications. The role would be based within the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences. The role will be to lead and foster interdisciplinary research on space ethics and sustainable futures in space.

Deadline:  26th April 2024 – 12 noon UK time

For more info, click here.

3-year PhD scholarship in Origins of Life research at the Aix-Marseille University (France)

The aim is to develop, under the supervision of Prof. Grégoire Danger and in collaboration with Dr. Robert Pascal and Dr Vassilissa Vinogradoff, prebiotic chemistry experiments to understand the chemistry occurring in the context of the early Earth.

The research will be carried out within the ASTRO team at the Physique des Interactions Ioniques et Moléculaires (PIIM) laboratory of the Aix-Marseille University in France. This team is part of the Origins Institute.

Application Deadline: June 1st, 2024
Starting date: October, 2024
End Date: October, 2027

>> Click here << for details on the role and how to apply.

For further information, please contact Grégoire Danger.

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 they aim to decrease selection biases: The first stage of the application process is anonymised, the second stage 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 (astro)physics, geoscience, computational chemistry, or equivalent at the latest by the starting date of the position but preferably at the time of application. Previous experience in aspects of astrophysics, machine learning, and related fields, and a track record of teamwork will be beneficial for the selection, as will experience in computational coding.

The three offered projects are:

  • Machine Learning-supported exoplanet cloud modelling
  • Solar Eruptions and their global magnetic environment
  • Magnetic helicity in solar eruptions and related interplanetary disturbances

>> Submission deadline: April 30th 2024 <<

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

2 year postdoc: Atmosphere Microbial Habitability Modelling (Marseille, France)

The Aix-Marseille University is seeking a 24-month Postdoc to work on a Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)-funded project ‘The atmosphere: a living, breathing ecosystem?’. The project is a collaboration involving the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography in Marseille (France), the University of Guelph (Canada), Monash University in Melbourne (Australia) and Arizona State University in Phoenix (USA). The position is under the supervision of Dr. James Bradley.

The overall aim of the project is to resolve the composition, capabilities, and activities of atmospheric microbes at a global scale, to distinguish whether the atmosphere exhibits structure and microbial activity characteristic of a true ecosystem, or if it is simply a passive dispersal medium for microorganisms.

Deadline:  Friday 10th May 2024

For more info, click here.

Informal inquiries should be made to Dr James Bradley.

Student Internship Opportunity at Okayama University (Japan)

The Institute for Planetary Materials (Okayama University, Japan) has opened the annual Misasa
International Student Internship Program (MISIP) for advanced undergraduate (3rd to 4th year) and Master’s students majoring in earth sciences, physics, chemistry, materials sciences, or related fields.

Students (who have a strong interest in a career pursuing scientific research) from either within or outside Japan, regardless of nationality, are eligible to apply.

Travel expenses and daily living expenses will be covered, and
accommodation in the Misasa Guesthouse, close to the Institute, will be provided.

Total number of Participants: 8-10.
Internship dates: July 2nd (Tue.) to August 8th (Thu.), 2024.

Last Date of Application: 24th March 2024 23:59 JST (15:59 CET).

Details can be found >> here <<.

For More details contact: Dr. Tak Kunihiro.

Postdoc opportunities: Mars Sample Return (University of Oslo, Norway)

The University of Oslo’s Centre for Planetary Habitability has announced two new postdoctoral opportunities related to Mars Sample Return.

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Earth and Planetary Sciences (257508)
    On establishing a Mars Sample Return (MSR) Analogue Sample Library (ASL) of terrestrial sample materials relevant for the MSR Campaign directed jointly by ESA and NASA (apply here)
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Planetary Sciences (257624)
    On deciphering the planetary rock record to explore evidence and fate of water on terrestrial planetary objects from the surface mineralogy and morphology (apply here)

Deadline:  Thursday 29 February 2024

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.