Astrobiology Job Market
Below, open positions are listed that have been forwarded by an EANA member. Additional job offers can be found for example at:

  1. PhD Opportunities in Interdisciplinary Space Sciences and Planetary Research
    As part of its Young Researcher Programme YRP@Graz, the Space Research Institute (IWF) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) invites applications for two PhD positions (30h/week). This programme offers exciting opportunities in space science, from exoplanet research and astrochemistry to instrument development.

    Projects in this call include developing a next-generation ion mass spectrometer for the Saturnian system and atmospheric modelling of rocky exoplanets.

    We seek excellent candidates with a Master’s degree in physics, astrophysics, geoscience, computational chemistry, electrical engineering, or an equivalent field. The positions are for a minimum of three years, starting as early as February 1, 2027.

    The application process has two stages, with stage 1 being an anonymised questionnaire (submission deadline: October 31, 2026), stage 2 takes the form of an interview.

    Submission Deadline: 2026-10-31
    Webpage: https://oeawnr.onlyfy.jobs/de/job/2xjqwg3g
    Contact: ruth-sophie.taubner@oeaw.ac.at


  2. PhD position NCCR Genesis: combining remote and in-situ life detection techniques
    This PhD project will be the first to combine two life-detection approaches: remote sensing via circular spectro-polarimetry and in situ laser-based mass spectrometry, both aimed at detecting signs of life. The bulk of the work is lab-based, using cultures of various microbial strains (including anaerobic cultivation) alongside classes of organic molecules relevant to Solar System environments.

    These lab studies will be complemented by field measurements of soil samples containing microorganisms and trace organics, material considered a relevant proxy for extinct or extant life on Mars or icy moons. The goal is to show how combining detection methods across different scales (remote vs. in situ) can inform optimal strategies for future missions, including ESA`s L4 mission to Enceladus and upcoming NASA Mars missions.

    Start Date: 1 February 2027

    Deadline: review of the applications will start immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

    Webpage: https://jobs.unibe.ch/job-vacancies/phd-position-nccr-genesis-combining-remote-and-in-situ-life-detection-techniques/63f88ccb-d841-4120-9afb-c722a9676
    Contact: brice-olivier.demory@unibe.ch


  3. PhD position NCCR Genesis: remote sensing of microorganisms in extreme environments
    This PhD project will study how conditions on icy moons affect our ability to detect bacteria in ice/salt mixtures. The setup pairs a high-sensitivity spectro-polarimeter with a temperature-vacuum chamber, while an electron gun and UV source simulate the harsh environmental stresses on bacterial samples deposited on ice, mimicking icy-moon surfaces.

    The project will also test whether spectro-polarimetry can probe fundamental biological structures in the near UV, aiming to identify biosignatures generalizable across a broad range of microorganisms.

    This effort will inform the preparation of future life-detection missions in our Solar System, such as the planned ESA L4 mission to Enceladus.

    Start Date: 1 February 2027

    Deadline: review of the applications will start immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

    Webpage: https://jobs.unibe.ch/job-vacancies/phd-position-nccr-genesis-remote-sensing-of-microorganisms-in-extreme-environments/9a22c3e4-9c8c-4bde-af6d-09735c7
    Contact: brice-olivier.demory@unibe.ch


  4. Postdoctoral fellowships on "life in the universe" in Geneva
    The Life in the Universe Center (Centre pour la Vie dans l’Univers) at the University of Geneva is pleased to announce the opening of the 2026 Michel Mayor Fellowship call.

    The Michel Mayor Fellowships support outstanding early-career researchers wishing to pursue innovative, interdisciplinary research on the origins, evolution, and detection of life in the Universe. Fellows develop an independent research project co-supervised by mentors from two different disciplines, with access to Geneva’s interdisciplinary research environment.

    Key information:
    Duration: up to 3 years
    Eligibility: PhD obtained within approximately the last 2 years
    Research area: interdisciplinary projects related to Life in the Universe
    Application deadline: 30 October 2026, 17:00 (Swiss time)
    Start date: no later than July 2027

    Application deadline: 2026-10-30
    Webpage: https://www.unige.ch/sciences/cvu/jobs/michel-mayor-fellowships
    Contact: cvu_admin@unige.ch


  5. Call for Co-Funded PhD Research Proposals for ESA Exploration Science
    This call aims to solicit research proposals that align with the ESA Explore 2040 Strategy, which implements two streams of science:

    1. Exploration-focused science addresses the needs of ESA in order to meet its exploration objectives. Any research generating knowledge or achieving outcomes required to inform decisions relating to ESA exploration missions, studies, technology developments, operations and strategy fits into this category.
    2. Exploration-enabled science leverages the capabilities of the existing ESA platforms to conduct excellent science.

    Proposals submitted in the framework of this AO can present research related to Exploration-Focused Science Themes, Exploration-Enabled Science Themes, or both.

    Application deadline: 2026-10-30
    Webpage: https://ideas.esa.int/core/servlet/hype/IMT?userAction=Browse&templateName=&documentId=6caf5857fce176c0e990aac535624469


  6. PhD Position in Planetary Science, NCCR Genesis, University of Geneva, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
    One Genesis-funded 4-year PhD position is currently available at the University of Geneva Department of Astronomy and CVU (Life in the Universe Center), in strong collaboration with ETH Zürich, starting on September 1st 2026. The successful candidate will perform simulations of rocky planets’ interior-atmosphere interactions. They will be fully integrated within the Exoplanet Team at the Observatory of Geneva and will also be integrated in Prof. P. Tackley’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics group at ETH Zürich.

    Start date: September 2026.

    Deadline: Review of applications will begin on 15th June 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

    Webpage: https://www.unige.ch/sciences/cvu/application/files/4417/8090/5017/Genesis_PhD_accouncement.pdf
    Contact: emeline.bolmont@unige.ch