PhD fellowships are available within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action EUROPAH

EUROPAH is a European Training Network (ETN) funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action. 13 research groups, spread across 10 universities and 3 industrial partners in 6 different countries have come together to train a new generation of astrophysicists through an EU-wide PhD training network.

The joint scientific research goal is to understand the role that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons play in the physics and chemistry of the interstellar medium of galaxies.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are universally ubiquitous and lock-up close to 15% of the elemental carbon in space. They play a key role in maintaining the ionization balance and in the heating of interstellar gas; hence controlling the phase structure of the interstellar medium (ISM) of galaxies and regulate star formation. PAHs are also central to the chemical complexity of space and the organic inventory of regions of star and planet formation. On Earth, PAHs are pernicious pollutants affecting the atmosphere and aquatic environments. Understanding PAHs and their multitude of roles in the Universe is thus a key question in both astrophysics and terrestrial chemistry.

What is offered

Positions are available across the EUROPAH network. Each ESR will be enrolled in a PhD program and complete a specially designed training schedule in tandem with performing research and innovation projects at their host organisation. This will be a highly multidisciplinary network that combines astronomy, molecular physics, molecular spectroscopy, environmental science, quantum chemistry, surface sciences, plasma physics and scientific communication. The training program is aimed at developing a research-oriented, creative and innovative mindset and will place you well for a future career in academia or in industry.

Positions are available at Aarhus University, Denmark, and University of Leiden, the Netherlands.

Who can apply

To qualify as an ESR in the EUROPAH network you must:

• have the background and expertise required for the position
• be in the first four years^* of your research career, since, e.g. completion of your masters’ degree,
• not already possess a doctorate degree,
• be willing to move to a country within the network^† in which you have not lived for more than 12 months over the last 3 years,
• be proficient in both written and spoken English.

This information is also available through the EUROPAH website at www.europah.eu.

^* full-time equivalent research experience
^† you must also be eligible for a working permit for this country

What to do

Visit our website for more details on the individual projects available. Then forward a 2-page CV and 1-page cover letter, listing your favoured projects in order of preference, to recruitment@europah.eu by the deadline: Aarhus Univeristy, Denmark (ESR#1 and ESR#2) - 23rd Oct 2017; Leiden University, the Netherlands (ESR#5) – 15th Oct 2017.