The newly founded German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA) is seeking to appoint a wide range of scientific staff to launch the new Centre. From technician posts, to PhDs, to post-docs, to group leader positions.
In particular the group leader position for GWD silicon technologies development should be highlighted as a special opportunity to lead your own group within a newly founded and well funded Centre of Astrophysics. Deadline for this position is September 30th 2026.
Please find here details.
To increase the scientific return from its space science missions, ESA welcomes applications from scientists interested in pursuing research based on publicly available data in the ESA Space Science Archives. The Archives host data from all current and past ESA space science missions in astronomy, planetary science, and heliophysics.
The ESA Archival Research Visitor Programme is open to scientists at all career levels who are affiliated with institutes in ESA Member States and Cooperating States (note that all visits must comply with the ESA Security Directives, which may necessitate additional checks). Early-career scientists are particularly encouraged to apply, including PhD students (see below). We encourage applications from women and minorities. The peer-review evaluation process is anonymised to ensure equal opportunities for all applicants.
Residence lasts typically between one and three months, also distributed over multiple visits, depending on the complexity of the research project. The research projects can be carried out at ESAC (Madrid, Spain) and at ESTEC (Noordwijk, Netherlands). To offset the expenses incurred by visitors, ESA covers travel costs from and to the home institution and provides support for lodging expenses and meals.
During their stay, visiting scientists have the opportunity to interact with archive and mission specialists for questions on the retrieval, calibration, and analysis of archival data. In principle, all areas of space research covered by ESA science missions can be supported (the data must be publicly available in the archives). To ensure that technical expertise in the specific area of interest is available at ESAC or ESTEC, applicants should consult the table of expertise and contact the relevant scientists in their field of interest (this is very important). In case of doubts, write to the programme coordinators for assistance at arvp(at)cosmos.esa.int.
The next deadline for applications is Saturday 31 October 2026, 23:59 UTC
Please find here full details.
This vacancy is for a four-year PhD position focusing on the development of the optical readout of the CHiPS sensor. Your research will centre on a homodyne quadrature interferometric readout, with the aim of combining high sensitivity with the robustness and stability required for continuous operation. You will investigate and develop the interferometric sensing architecture through modelling, experimental development and characterisation. The readout will be designed to operate in both open-loop mode, using fringe counting, and closed-loop mode. Developing the closed-loop system will involve close collaboration with the control-design PhD researcher at TU Delft, while achieving a robust and compact sensor will require close interaction with the optomechanics PhD researcher. The deadline for applications is Sunday 4 October 2026 at 23:59 CEST.
Many state-of-the-art sensors demonstrate exceptional performance in the laboratory, but achieving that performance can require careful manual optimisation, frequent recalibration or precise realignment. Such an approach is not sufficient for applications that require sensors to operate continuously and autonomously in demanding environments.
The CHiPS (Compact High-Precision Sensors) project aims to address this challenge by combining advanced sensing and control techniques into compact, robust and extremely high-performance inertial sensors. The goal is to move beyond laboratory demonstrations and develop sensors that can operate reliably for extended periods without manual intervention. The resulting technology will target applications ranging from semiconductor manufacturing to next-generation gravitational-wave detectors.
The CHiPS project is being carried out by a team of three PhD researchers: one based in the gravitational-wave research group at Nikhef (this vacancy) and two based in the Precision and Microsystems Engineering (PME) department at Delft University of Technology. The three PhD projects address complementary aspects of the sensor:
The project is funded through the Dutch National Growth Fund NXTGEN programme of NWO and is carried out in collaboration with industrial and academic partners, including ASML.
Please find here full details
We are offering two fully funded PhD positions at the Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, in the field of gravitational-wave astronomy. There are two positions available:
PROJECT A (PI Dr. Ornella Juliana Piccinni): One project will focus on the development of novel data analysis methods for the search and characterization of continuous gravitational waves and dark matter candidates, with applications to current and future detectors.
PROJECT B (PI Dr. Cecilio Garcia-Quiros): The second project will focus on the modelling of gravitational-wave signals from compact binary systems and on the development of data analysis methods for the parameter estimation of these systems using current and next-generation gravitational-wave observatories.
The successful candidate will join the GRAVITY research group at the IAC3, an internationally recognised team with a leading role in gravitational-wave science. The group is a major contributor to the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA (LVK) Collaboration as well as the next generation of gravitational-wave observatories LISA and Einstein Telescope. As part of the GRAVITY group, the successful candidate will work within a vibrant international research environment, collaborating with scientists from leading institutions worldwide and contributing to cutting-edge research. For more information about the institute see https://iac3.uib.es/
For more information about the positions, eligibility requirements, and the application procedure please send a CV and a short statement of interest to ornella.piccinni(at)uib.es for PROJECT A and cecilio.garcia(at)uib.es for PROJECT B before 27 July.
The deadline for submitting the formal application and all required supporting documents through the University application is 18 September 2026. The successful candidates are expected to start their contracts on 1 November 2026.
Please feel free to forward this announcement to candidates who may be interested.
Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Physics or a closely related field. Candidates who have not yet completed their master’s degree are also encouraged to apply, provided that they obtain their master’s degree before the start of the contract on 1 November 2026. By the contract start date, all successful candidates must have completed both degrees and accumulated at least 300 ECTS credits.
The Theory Division at the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ), Warsaw, invites applications for a PhD student position in gravity and cosmology.
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with experience in scientific computing (Python, C++, and/or Mathematica), a strong background in quantum mechanics, and prior training in general relativity and cosmology through graduate-level coursework or equivalent research experience. Familiarity with quantum gravity will be considered an advantage.
The successful candidate will work on quantum cosmology, contributing to the development of an extension of the standard cosmological framework based on the multiverse-state formalism. The project combines analytical and numerical approaches. The PhD student will be responsible for developing numerical implementations of the formalism, designing and testing computational algorithms, performing numerical simulations, deriving analytical approximations, and investigating potential observational signatures. The student will also contribute to perturbative calculations and the interpretation of the obtained results.
The position is funded by the National Science Centre, Poland, under grant DEC-2025/59/B/ST2/00497. The successful candidate will be enrolled in the NCBJ Doctoral School. Funding includes a doctoral scholarship for up to four years and resources necessary to conduct the research project, including support for conference travel.
The expected starting date is 1 October 2026 (or shortly thereafter).
The deadline for applications is 31 July 2026.
Applications should be submitted through the NCBJ Doctoral School admission process:
https://gradschool.ncbj.gov.pl/admission-requirements/
Applicants should submit:
Application materials should be sent to grad@ncbj.gov.pl.
For further information, please visit the NCBJ Doctoral School website (https://gradschool.ncbj.gov.pl).
Please find here details.
we would like to draw your attention to the 4-year RING project recently funded by the German Research Foundation (extendable to 8 years). The project has strong overlap with gravitational wave detection research on instrumentation.
The project aims at pushing the sensitivity and stability limits of rotational motion sensing with ring laser technology into new realms using approaches from quantum optics and metrology. The ultimate goal is to enable ring laser observations as a complement to classic space-geodetic methods towards more precise, high-rate estimation of Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP). Furthermore, we plan to develop (trans-) portable ring lasers fit for weak, broadband 6 degree-of-freedom ground motion observations towards better understanding of atmosphere-solid Earth coupling (also relevant for seismic decoupling of gravitational wave detection facilities).
The project offers postdoctoral and PhD topics in laser physics, geodesy, geophysics, hydrology, and seismology. The successful candidates will be part of a multi-disciplinary research team at various institutions in Germany with excellent training and experimental facilities.
More information, links to the individual research projects and open positions can be found here:
https://www.ringlaser.de
Prof. Dr. Katharina Isleif
https://www.hsu-hh.de/karriere/wp-content/uploads/sites/658/2026/04/Reference-Number-MB-0926.pdf
Prof. Dr. Oliver Gerberding
https://www.physik.uni-hamburg.de/en/iexp/gruppe-gerberding/offene-stellen.html
The NZ Astrostatistics and General Relativity Group (NZ Gravity) is coordinating applications for several PhD scholarships within an interdisciplinary team to work on
• interstellar objects, stellar populations, supernovae, large scale structure formation and ultralight dark matter, engaging with the Vera Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) and
• gravitational wave astronomy and statistical data analysis for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission.
The cross-institutional research team spans astrophysics, cosmology, mathematics and statistics with members at five New Zealand universities as well as international collaborators within the Vera Rubin Observatory and the International LISA Consortium.
The LSST is a ten-year, wide-field astronomical survey designed to image the entire southern sky every few nights using a 3.2 gigapixel camera, creating a massive 200-petabyte dataset for studying dark energy and dark matter, mapping the Milky Way, exploring the transient optical sky, and identifying potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids. The space-based gravitational wave mission LISA raises deep challenges regarding source modelling and numerical simulation and requires new statistical methodologies. We are seeking highly motivated and skilled students with a strong background in statistics, physics, mathematics or a related discipline, with sound computing skills and a keen interest in interdisciplinary research in gravitational wave science. All PhD and MSc candidates will have the opportunity to join the NZ Gravity Group, obtain academic support from an interdisciplinary supervisory team and will contribute to cutting-edge research for the LSST and the LISA mission. The PhD scholarships will be available from May 2026 and provide an annual (tax-free) stipend of NZ$35,000 plus tuition fees for three years. Starting dates are flexible throughout the year.
PhD Projects
More details about each of the PhD projects including the required skillsets and supervisors can be found here. Admissions decisions will be made by individual universities – please direct initial enquiries to the supervisors of specific projects that interest you or send general queries to
Professor Richard Easther (R.Easther(at)auckland.ac.nz) and
Professor Renate Meyer (Renate.Meyer(at)auckland.ac.nz).
To increase the scientific return from its space science missions, ESA welcomes applications from scientists interested in pursuing research based on publicly available data in the ESA Space Science Archives. The Archives host data from all current and past ESA space science missions in astronomy, planetary science, and heliophysics.
The ESA Archival Research Visitor Programme is open to scientists at all career levels who are affiliated with institutes in ESA Member States and Cooperating States (note that all visits must comply with the ESA Security Directives, which may necessitate additional checks). Early-career scientists are particularly encouraged to apply, including PhD students (see below). We encourage applications from women and minorities. The peer-review evaluation process is anonymised to ensure equal opportunities for all applicants.
Residence lasts typically between one and three months, also distributed over multiple visits, depending on the complexity of the research project. The research projects can be carried out at ESAC (Madrid, Spain) and at ESTEC (Noordwijk, Netherlands). To offset the expenses incurred by visitors, ESA covers travel costs from and to the home institution and provides support for lodging expenses and meals.
During their stay, visiting scientists have the opportunity to interact with archive and mission specialists for questions on the retrieval, calibration, and analysis of archival data. In principle, all areas of space research covered by ESA science missions can be supported (the data must be publicly available in the archives). To ensure that technical expertise in the specific area of interest is available at ESAC or ESTEC, applicants should consult the table of expertise and contact the relevant scientists in their field of interest (this is very important). In case of doubts, write to the programme coordinators for assistance at arvp@cosmos.esa.int.
The next deadline for applications is Wednesday 30 April 2026, 23:59 UTC
Call for applications
Applications can be submitted at any time by sending email to arvp@cosmos.esa.int. The email should contain a single PDF document of at most three pages detailing:
Please keep it short (max 2 pages for the text of the proposal, max 1 page for figures, references, and contact information) and follow the simple template provided here. Note that this is just a template, you can use the font type and size that you prefer (not smaller than 10), but please do not exceed two pages for the text and one page for figures, references, and contact information. You must indicate in which year you obtained (or will obtain) your PhD.
To prevent unconscious biases, your name, email address, and other contact information (on the third page) will not be visible to reviewers. To help in the process, you must write your application in an “anonymous” way, i.e. do not identify yourself in the text. For instance, do not mention the name of your institute or collaborators in the scientific description of the project (page 1 and 2) and when you are referring to one of your papers, do not write “I have shown that … (Author Name, 2023, Journal, 954, 125)”, but rather write “It has been shown that … (Author Name, 2023, Journal, 954, 125)”. If you identify yourself, the application will not be considered.
We encourage you to contact us if you have any questions about the data that could support your research project. You will find the names of our experts in the various science areas in the table of expertise below. Or write to the programme coordinators for assistance at arvp@cosmos.esa.int.
Students
We welcome proposals by graduate students. The proposals can be submitted by the students themselves or in collaboration with their supervisors. If you are a student and would like to visit ESA to learn more about doing science with archival data, make sure that you coordinate and agree your research project with your supervisor. Mention this in the application, but omit the name of the supervisor, otherwise the application is not anonymous.
Deadlines
Applications can be submitted at any time and are reviewed twice a year, with deadlines usually on 30 April and 31 October. The results of the review will be communicated to applicants within about two months of the deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to contact the ESA scientists or the programme coordinators well ahead of the deadlines in order to discuss their research plans.
Applications received by 30 April 2026 (23:59 UTC) will be considered for visits in autumn and winter 2026/2027.
Please find here full details.
The Institute for Nuclear Physics in the Faculty of Physics at the University of Münster, Germany, is seeking to fill the position of a Doctoral Research Associate (Wissenschaftlicher MitarbeiterIn, salary level E 13 TV-L) at the earliest possible date. We are offering a fixed-term part-time position (67%) for 3 years. Full-time employees are required to teach 4 hours per week during the semester. Application deadline February 28th, 2026.
Please find here full details.
Possibility of pursuing a PhD in gravitational wave physics at the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) in Barcelona [see a description below] through the: Doctoral INPhINIT Incoming fellowship program of the LaCaixa Foundation. Application deadline: January 23rd, 2025, at 2 pm CET.
Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than twelve months in the three years immediately preceding the closing date of the call.
The ICE-CSIC, as a research centre accredited with the Spanish Seal of Excellence María de Maeztu will support applications of interested candidates to work in any aspect of gravitational wave astronomy, from instrumentation to theory. ICE members participate in LISA, LVK, and ET.
Contact: Carlos F. Sopuerta (carlos.f.sopuerta(at)csic.es), Sascha Husa (sascha.husa(at)csic.es), Miquel Nofrarias (nofrarias(at)ice.csic.es)
Please find here full details.