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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..
The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries.
ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in northern Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor (home to ALMA and APEX), and the ESO Headquarters are located in Garching, near Munich, Germany.
At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory, and will host and operate the southern array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, the world's largest and most sensitive high energy gamma-ray observatory. ESO is a major partner in ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky" and whose operations will be fully integrated into the Paranal Observatory.
To build and operate state-of-the-art facilities for the advancement of astronomical research, a strong Research & Development (R&D) programme is at the core of ESO's activities. To support this R&D, we are advertising an
What are we looking for?
Dynamic young individuals ready to take an active part in the ESO R&D projects with a good deal of team spirit, curiosity and eagerness to learn.
What are we offering?
- An engineering PhD Studentship of 1 to 3 years;
- An international, multi-disciplinary environment, situated on the Garching science campus close to Munich, Germany, next to the best German universities, world-renowned research centres and 2 recent Nobel prizes;
- Working in collaboration with ESO's partner institutes and high-tech industries in the ESO member states;
- Three observatories at the forefront of ground-based astronomy and of technology: La Silla, Paranal and ALMA. And one of the most challenging telescopes under construction: the Extremely Large Telescope;
- An attractive remuneration package and support for relocating families.
Current ESO active R&D projects:
- Advanced visible and infrared detectors for astronomical instrumentation (modelling, testing, development of CMOS fast detectors, curved detectors...);
- Adaptive optics and related components including laser guide stars, deformable mirrors, wavefront sensing, tomographic techniques, interactions with segmented mirrors...;
- System simulation and modelling including deformable mirrors, telescope seeing effects, exposure time calculators, instruments, model-based system engineering;
- Optical metrology and photonics for (sub-)micrometric large structure characterisation, interferometry;
- Mechanics and cryogenics;
- Real-time computing;
- Machine learning applied to various topics (documentation management, data reduction, predictive control etc.).
For more details and a list of PhD subjects see the following https://www.eso.org/sci/activities/fellowships-and-studentships/engstudentfellow/phd-abstracts.html#par
Applications
If you are interested in enhancing your early career through a Studentship at ESO, then please then please apply by clicking the button here above and completing the web application form.
Please include the following documents in your application:
- A motivation letter including why you wish to join one of the proposed subject projects (maximum one page);
- A curriculum vitae with a list of publications, if any, your technical/practical experience and the names and contact details of three persons familiar with your research and/or engineering work and willing to provide a recommendation letter;
- An outline of how you plan to develop the PhD project (maximum of two pages), with a timeline, the requested starting date and duration attached to your CV;
- If possible, a letter of support from the formal supervisor at your home institute agreeing with the project plan, guaranteeing financial support (salary, health insurance, travel money) for the part of the PhD done at the home institute (in case the studentship is requested for less than 3 years) and indicating that you fulfil the pre-requisites for a PhD programme in that institute (or that you will soon fulfill them). If you do not have a formal supervisor yet, please mention it. The letter of support by a supervisor in an academic institute will be needed before the start of the PhD.
The closing date for applications is 20 October, 2025.
The PhD studentship is expected to begin any time in 2026.
For any additional questions please contact: Francoise Delplancke-Ströbele, email: fdelplan AT eso.org.
ESO Values
An important element in any successful employment relationship is harmony in values between an organisation and its people.
The ESO values are:
ESO strives for excellence through innovation.
ESO provides outstanding services to its communities.
ESO fosters diversity & inclusion.
ESO believes in the key role of sustainability for its future.
Achieving the above are recognized as only possible on the basis of personal values and attitudes that we expect from our employees: respect, integrity, accountability, commitment, collaboration, and clear & open communication.
Applicants to any ESO role are asked to reflect on their affinity with these values and advised they may be asked about them if called for interview.
Diversity
ESO has established diversity as an important value of the Organisation, is committed to providing an equal opportunities environment and is actively seeking to promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Please visit https://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/sustainability/dei-at-eso/ for further details.
Nationality
No nationality is in principle excluded from employment at ESO, however, recruitment preference will be given to nationals of our Member States, host states and strategic partners: Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Chile, irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion.