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Advert. no. 2019_0044
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Working at ESO

Are you interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international environment? Do you feel your profile matches our requirements? Learn more about our current vacancies and apply online. Read more..

 

Studentship Programme Europe 2019/2020

Garching

Vacancy closed on 15/11/2019

Deadline 15/11/2019

Direct your research at one of the world's leading observatories

The research studentship programme of the European Southern Observatory provides an outstanding opportunity for PhD students to conduct their research in the vibrant scientific environment of one of the world's leading Observatories for a period of up to two years.

ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe. Its approximately 110 staff astronomers, 40 Fellows and 40 PhD students conduct frontline research in fields ranging from exoplanets to cosmology, offering one of the most collaborative and stimulating scientific settings anywhere in the world.

ESO's studentship positions are open to students enrolled in a PhD programme in astronomy or related fields (observational, theoretical and fundamental astrophysics). Students accepted into the programme work on their doctoral project under the formal supervision of their home university, but they come to ESO to work and study under the co-supervision of an ESO staff astronomer, normally for a period of between one and two years. Studentships may be hosted either at ESO's Headquarters in Garching (Germany) or at ESO's offices in Santiago (Chile), where up to two positions per year are provided for students enrolled in South American universities.

Applicants and their home institute supervisors should agree upon and coordinate their research project jointly with their prospective ESO supervisor. For this purpose the ESO supervisor should be contacted well in advance of the application deadlines (next deadline is 15 November 2019). A list of potential ESO supervisors and their research interests can be found at https://www.eso.org/sci/activities/Science_in_GAR_and_SCL.html.

ESO Chile students have the opportunity to visit the observatories and to get involved in small technical projects that equip them with hands-on skills and give them insights into the observatory operations and instrumentation. Such involvement is also strongly encouraged for Garching students. ESO students at both sites benefit from a vital collaborative environment among a multi-disciplined young generation. They stay in touch with the latest developments in science and have the opportunity to network with top researchers visiting ESO. In addition, students in Garching may attend and benefit from the series of lectures delivered in the framework of the International Max-Planck Research School on Astrophysics. ESO students have also the possibility to join in many outreach activities.

Students who are already enrolled in a PhD programme in the Munich area (e.g., at the International Max-Planck Research School on Astrophysics or a Munich University) and who wish to apply for an ESO studentship in Garching, should provide a compelling justification for their application.

If you are interested in enhancing your PhD experience in an international and culturally-rich environment, growing your network of potential collaborators and overall consolidating your scientific profile through an extended stay at ESO, then please apply by completing the web application form available at the https://jobs.eso.org.

Please include the following documents in your application:

  • a cover letter;
  • a curriculum vitae, including a list of publications, if any;
  • copies of your university transcript and certificate(s) or diploma(s);
  • a summary of your master's thesis project (if applicable) and ongoing projects, indicating the title and the supervisor (maximum half a page);
  • an outline of the proposed PhD project (recommended one page, maximum two), containing a clear timeline including the start and expected end dates of the PhD, and the requested starting date and duration for the studentship at ESO. The candidate should also highlight in the project the advantages of coming to ESO;
  • the names and contact details of your home institute supervisor and the ESO local supervisor. Applicants are responsible for triggering (via the web application form) requests for these support letters to be submitted. This trigger request can be sent prior to the submission of application and should be initiated well in advance of the application deadline;
  • a letter from the home institute that: i) guarantees financial support (salary, health insurance and travel money) for the remaining PhD period after the termination of the ESO studentship; ii) indicates whether the prerequisites to obtain the PhD degree at the home institute have already been met.

All documents should be typed in English (but no translation is required for the certificates and diplomas).

Depending on the number of available positions, there might be up to two application rounds per year (with closing dates for applications 31 May and 15 November of the current calendar year). The coming round has a deadline for the submission of applications on 15 November 2019. Review of the application documents, including the recommendation letters, begins immediately following the deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Candidates will be notified of the results of the selection process within two months following the deadline. Studentships considered in the coming May round will normally begin between August 2019 - March 2020. Studentships considered in the November round will normally begin between March 2020 - August 2020. In exceptional cases, students could start their studentship at ESO later than these indicated dates. The justification for this deferred start should be well justified in the application and supported by the supervisors.

Further information

For more information about the studentship programme please see http://www.eso.org/sci/activities/FeSt-overview/ESOstudentship.html.

A list of current ESO staff and fellows, and their research interests, is available at http://www.eso.org/sci/activities.html.

A list of PhD projects currently being offered by ESO staff can be found at http://www.eso.org/sci/activities/thesis-topics.html.

Details on the employment conditions and benefits are available at http://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/students/.

For further general information about studentship applications, please see http://www.eso.org/sci/activities/FeSt-overview/ESOstudentship/StudentshipFaq.html. For questions that are not answered by the above FAQ page please contact Paola Andreani (pandrean@eso.org) for the Studentship Programme Europe, or Itziar de Gregorio-Monsalvo (idegrego@eso.org) if your questions are for Chile.

No nationality is in principle excluded however, recruitment preference will be given to nationals of Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and, for Chile, to students enrolled in a South American university irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, race or religion.

Contact us

Email vacancy@eso.org

ESO