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. ESA Internal Research Fellow in Planetary Protection
    The Research Fellow in Planetary Protection will work in close cooperation with other staff of the Independent Safety Office in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

    The primary role is to develop mathematical frameworks to be used for modelling the probability to 1) transfer harmful contamination to solar system bodies for robotic or crewed missions (or a combination of both); 2) transfer harmful contamination from outer space to Earth.

    As an internal researcher, the candidate will perform research activities exploring new ways or expanding the scope of existing studies to promote the use of risk-informed decision frameworks, prediction models, AI applied to planetary protection.

    Application deadline: 2026-10-07
    Webpage: https://jobs.esa.int/job/Noordwijk-Internal-Research-Fellow-in-Planetary-Protection/1370985933/
    Contact: contact.human.resources@esa.int


  2. 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


  3. 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


  4. 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