Cometary Science Newsletter

ESA Research Fellowship in Space Science (Postdoctoral Fellowships)

We are pleased to announce the 2026 Call for Applications for the European Space Agency's Research Fellowships in Space Science. We expect to hire ~9-10 postdoctoral fellows who will start their fellowship in fall 2027.

The deadline for applications is 21 September 2026.

ESA's postdoctoral Research Fellowship programme offers early-career researchers the possibility to carry out independent research in a variety of disciplines. Research Fellowships in Space Science offer the opportunity to contribute to ESA's endeavour to explore our Solar System and the Universe in the fields of heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, and fundamental physics.

ESA Research Fellow contracts have a maximum duration of three years. Projects initially last two years and are frequently extended to a third year upon submission of a dedicated proposal.

Research Fellowships in Space Science can be located at any of the following institutes:

• European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Villafranca del Castillo near Madrid, Spain
• European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands
• ESA Office at Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Detailed information and a link to the application portal can be found on the fellowship webpage: www.cosmos.esa.int/fellowship.

ESA Archival Research Visitor Programme

To increase the scientific return from its space science missions, the European Space Agency (ESA) welcomes applications from scientists interested in pursuing research projects based on data publicly available in the ESA Space Science Archives (https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/esdc).

The ESA Archival Research Visitor Programme is open to scientists, at all career levels, who are affiliated with institutes in ESA Member States and Cooperating States. All visits must comply with the ESA security directives, which may necessitate additional checks. Early-career scientists and PhD students are particularly encouraged to apply. We encourage applications from women and minorities. The peer-review evaluation process is anonymised to ensure equal opportunities for all applicants.

During their stay, visiting scientists will have access to archives and mission specialists for help with the retrieval, calibration, and analysis of archival data. In principle, all areas of space research covered by ESA science missions can be supported.

Residence lasts typically between one and three months, also distributed over multiple visits. Research projects can be carried out at ESAC (Madrid, Spain) and at ESTEC (Noordwijk, Netherlands). To offset the expenses incurred by visitors, ESA covers travel costs from and to the home institution and provides support for lodging expenses and meals.

Applications received by 31 October 2026, 23:59 UTC, will be considered for visits in spring and summer 2027.

For further details, including areas of research and contact information, please refer to www.cosmos.esa.int/web/esdc/visitor-programme or write to the programme coordinators at arvp@cosmos.esa.int

Two PhD and Two Postdoctoral Positions in Cometary Science

The Institute of Astronomy and National Astronomical Observatory (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) in Sofia, Bulgaria, invites applications for two PhD and two postdoctoral positions.

These roles are part of the newly established CLIC (Cometary Life Cycle) research group, led by Rosita Kokotanekova and funded by the Swiss-Bulgarian PROMYS program until the end of 2029.

The CLIC project investigates the physical evolution of comet nuclei from their formation to eventual dormancy or disruption. The research links comets to other small body populations (TNOs, Centaurs, irregular moons, and dormant comets) and is closely tied to the Comet Interceptor mission and Rubin Observatory’s LSST.

2 PhD Positions:
Focus on observational astrophysics using large photometric survey data to study the evolution of the physical properties and shapes across populations.
Application Deadline: September 30, 2026

2 Postdoctoral Positions:
Focus on modeling and data analysis. Position 1 centers on dynamical and thermophysical modeling of cometary surface evolution. Position 2 focuses on photometry and spectrophotometric modeling to investigate mechanisms driving surface color changes.
Application Deadline: October 31, 2026

We are seeking independent, curious candidates eager to help build a new research group and collaborate with our extended international network. For any questions or to express your interest, please contact rkokotanekova@nao-rozhen.org directly.

Full project descriptions, candidate profiles, and application instructions are available at: https://clic.kokotanekova.com/positions