Are you at the beginning of your scientific career and would like to dive deeper into the worlds of exoplanets? Are you fascinated about their potential atmospheres and would like to explore their secrets by using the latest data from current satellite missions? Or help building space instrumentation? Would you like to investigate protoplanetary disks or the impact of the solar wind on Earth’s magnetosphere? Then become a part of the Young Researcher Program in Graz (YRP@Graz), Austria’s space capital city!

The Space Research Institute (IWF) in Graz has been a leading institution in space research for more than half a century. The IWF has been involved in numerous space missions and hosts eight research groups in different fields of astrophysics.

In addition to its scientific work, the IWF Graz is strongly committed to supporting early-career researchers on their path into science. Therefore, the

Young Researcher Program in interdisciplinary space science and planetary research
(YRP@Graz)

at the IWF in collaboration with our partners - the Graz University of Technology and the University of Graz - is established. PhD students will be enabled to gain first experiences in science.
 

Our expectations:

  • We look for early career researchers who are interested in an interdisciplinary exchange based on a solid university education in at least one subject of natural sciences or engineering.
  • We aim for PhD candidates who would like to actively join our YRP@Graz initiative, helping to develop the tradition of the involved institutes.
  • We look for excellent researchers who have the courage to cross scientific borders in a responsible way and to support our international societies with their research.
  • We search for team players who aspire to continue their skill development as well as to support the research location Graz.

3 steps to become part of YRP@Graz

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Check out open projects

YRP@Graz seeks excellence. We offer a broad variety of interdisciplinary PhD projects within the fields of astronomy/astrophysics and space instrumentation. Each of the projects profits from the YRP-network consisting of members of several research groups at the IWF, the TU Graz, and/or the Uni Graz.

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Apply for a YRP PhD position

YRP@Graz strives to regularly open calls for vacant position within the programme. We aim for an inclusive application process. The application process is two-staged and starts with an anonymous questionnaire. As an example, see the summary of the 2022 application round here.

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Be a PhD student at YRP@Graz

YRP@Graz offers a platform that spans three research institutions. This broad network not only enables doctoral studies at the two participating universities with the support of the IWF, but also opens up additional opportunities aimed at fostering the professional development of the next generation of researchers.

 

All three involved institutions (IWF/ÖAW, TU Graz, and Uni Graz) follow a policy of diversity, equality, and equal opportunities. Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply to YRP@Graz.

For further questions, please contact christiane.helling(at)oeaw.ac.at or ruth-sophie.taubner(at)oeaw.ac.at.

 

Open PhD position (current status: application reviewing)

ML-tools for cloud formation in exoplanetary atmospheres

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Christiane Helling

This PhD position is part of a FWF funded project that aims to understand cloud formation in exoplanets and specifically the formation of molecular cluster as pre-coursers of cloud formation in the diversity of extrasolar planets. The project explores advanced neural network architectures, particularly Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) and generative models, to predict thermo-chemical properties of large molecular clusters. These data will be applied to support  physical data interpretation of observations with CHEOPS, JWST, and other space missions, like PLATO, in the future.

We seek excellent candidates with a strong background in natural sciences. Successful candidates must hold a Master’s degree in physics, astrophysics or equivalent at the latest by the starting date of the position but preferably at the time of application.  Previous experience on aspects of computational chemistry, machine learning and related fields, and a track record of team work will be beneficial for the selection, as will experience in scientific coding and scientific publishing.

The first stage of the application process is anonymised, the second stage takes the form of an interview. To apply for these positions, an anonymous questionnaire has to be filled in. No further documents are accepted at this stage of the application process.