Life and Space DAYS, Polish online event, starting December 4th

The Polish Astrobiological Society (PTAstrobio) would like to welcome you to the 1st edition of Life and Space DAYS (LAS DAYS 25) – an international online science event dedicated to exploring the cutting edge of astrobiology, space science, and the origins of life.

The event will take place from December 4–7, 2025. Organized by the Polish Astrobiological Society, this inaugural edition will bring together researchers, students, and space enthusiasts from around the world to exchange ideas, spark new collaborations, and envision the future of life in the Universe. The event starts with a Big Bang – the opening keynote speaker is Peggy Whitson. Joining not long after her return from ISS, this accomplished astronaut and biochemist will share insights from her work. The opening lecture begins on December 4th at 18:00 CET.

How to Participate: All lectures will be streamed via the AstroBio YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PTAstrobio

PTAstrobio looks forward to your valuable presence and contributions to make this event a reservoir of knowledge and inspiration!

Useful links:
Event website: https://astrobio.pl/las25/
LAS DAYS 25 Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/751232691312185/
PTAstroBio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PTAstroBio

(!!!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.

3rd OHP International Summer School (23-27th June 2025; Observatoire de Haute Provence, France)

Institut Origines is pleased to announce the 3rd OHP International Summer School. This exceptional event invites you to explore the frontiers of life through an interdisciplinary approach!

Program highlights: Lectures and round-table discussions featuring renowned experts in prebiotic chemistry, microbiology, exobiology, planetology, astrophysics, philosophy, and law. These sessions will be moderated by an award-winning science journalist, offering a unique opportunity to delve into the fundamental questions surrounding the origin and evolution of life.

Don’t miss this chance to discover the latest research and connect with scientists from around the world in a unique setting!

Pre-register via this link: https://institut-origines.univ-amu.fr/fr/formation/ecoles-ete

Speakers: Chantal Abergel, Mélanie Baroni, James Bradley, Jean-Michel Claverie, Magali Deleuil, Simon Duval, David Ehrenreich, Gaël Erauso, Vincent Hue, Frédéric Laurie, Dominique Leglu, Martina Preiner, Pascal Taranto, Nicolas Thouveny, and more…

Poster credit: Sarah Anderson

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

PhD studentship on the origin of life at alkaline hydrothermal vents at Newcastle University (UK)

A PhD is available based at Newcastle University on the origin of life at alkaline hydrothermal vents, as part of the Iapetus2 Doctoral Training Scheme.

The student will use a set of state-of-the-art pressurised continuous flow hydrothermal reactors to mimic the mixing of hydrogen-rich alkaline hydrothermal vent fluids with carbon dioxide-rich seawater or freshwater over a range of different mineral substrates. They will extend exciting recent work on the successful generation of long chain fatty acids using this apparatus and assess the potential for generating a range of further biological relevant organic molecules.

This studentship aims to make a step change in our understanding of how life originated on our planet, and the potential for life to have started on other worlds.

>> Deadline: 15th of January 2024 (12PM GMT) <<

Full details of the project and the application process can be found here.

For any questions.an informal chat, you can contact Dr. Jon Telling

Postdoctoral positions in metabolism and heredity at the origin of life at University College London (UCL, UK)

The Centre for Life’s Origins and Evolution (CLOE) at University College London (UCL) is seeking 24-month Research Fellows.

The project is funded by a BBSRC sLoLa grant entitled “Origins of Biology: How energy flow structures metabolism and heredity at the origin of life.” These fellowship positions could focus on experimental work, exploring the non-enzymatic synthesis or aqueous polymerization of small molecules relevant to protometabolism at the origin of life, or more theoretical work exploring the effect of models of heredity with selection at the level of the protocell.

Posts availability: from January 2024, funded for 2 years with possibilities for extension.

>> The deadline is January 8th 2024 <<

Interview Date(s): January 2024.

This role is an open-ended contract with a funding end date of 30.01.2026 in the first instance.

>> Click here for more info about the post <<

IOoL2022: Abstract deadline extension

The Origin of Life Early Career Network (OoLEN) is pleased to announce that this year’s Interdisciplinary Origin of Life Meeting for Early Career Researchers (IOoL2022) will take place on August 3-5 at the University of Montreal, Canada.

All expenses except travel (with possible exceptions) will be covered!

📣 Abstract deadline extended to May 6th 2022!! 📣

OoLEN’s biannual meeting, the IOoL conference, is a prime opportunity for early-career researchers to present their work on origin of life in a relaxed setting, to exchange ideas across different disciplines relevant to understanding the origin and nature of living systems, and to stimulate discussions and ideas to help guide the future of research on these topics.

The IOoL meeting further provides an opportunity for early career researchers to connect with each other and immerse themselves in the community outside their own labs. A previous meeting has resulted in OoLEN’s first community paper.

Researchers interested in submitting an abstract are welcome to join the network through https://oolen.org/join/ (please mention your intention to participate in IOoL2022 when joining the network) and then send an email to oolearlycareer@gmail.com with the subject line “Abstract for IOoL2022” containing a single .pdf file with the following information: name, affiliation, title, abstract (max. 250 words, in English), while also specifying if travel support is needed.

Submissions will be considered for oral presentations.

You are encouraged to visit OoLEN’s website for more information.

Summer school “Life on Earth and Beyond – History and Philosophy of Astrobiology: The Origin of Life”

📣 Applications are open for this unique summer school! 📣

Co-organised by the European Astrobiology Institute and the Space Humanities Group at Lund University, the course is open for students and scientists in humanities, natural, social and political sciences.

📅 Dates: May 30th – June 1st, 2022 📅

🌍 Where: Ven Island, Sweden 🌍

👉 Click here for more info 👈

The deadline for applying is on the 1st of April – apply here