We are pleased to inform you about the opening of the call for European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Research Fellowships in Space Science with an application deadline of September 19, 2022. 

ESA’s postdoctoral research fellowship program offers early career scientists and engineers the possibility to carry out research in a variety of disciplines related to space science, space applications, or space technology. Research fellowships in space science specifically offer the opportunity to contribute to ESA’s endeavor to explore our solar system and the universe and cover the fields of heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, and fundamental physics. 

The research fellowships offer a unique insight into ESA’s environment and activities while conducting cutting-edge research. Mentoring and training opportunities are available, as are possibilities to engage with ESA’s science-related activities (e.g., archive/data science, operations, calibration, communication, and citizen science). 

Approximately 11 ESA Fellowships in Space Science (SCI) will be offered this year, to join the pool of about 25 Research Fellows. Within the Science Directorate (SCI), we welcome all independent proposals for innovative research associated with one or more of our missions. The Space Science fellowships can be taken up at any of the three sites — ESAC (Spain), ESTEC (Netherlands), or STScI (USA) — and we encourage applicants to choose sites that allow for best local collaborations. To learn more about the research conducted by the ESA scientists at different sites, please visit the Faculty Member Directory and the pages for the faculty research groups. There is a separate page for research at the ESA Office at STScI (see also the research of non-ESA scientists at STScI). 

Duration: Appointments are for a maximum of three years. The initial project is for two years. An extension for a third year requires a dedicated proposal and is frequently granted.

Eligibility: Citizens of ESA Member States or of cooperating and associated countries. 

More information on the Research Fellowship program and on how to apply can be found at https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/space-science-faculty/opportunities/research-fellowships.