Doctoral Candidate position (DC3) at University College London for the completion of a PhD with[...]

We are pleased to announce the opening of a Doctoral Candidate position at University College London (UCL) in England to carry out a PhD within the EXODOCS project. DC3 – Optimizing Mineral Identification Using Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) spectrometry. The full project description can be found at Research – EXODOCS. EXODOCS is a Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Doctoral Network funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101226728). It draws on a multidisciplinary consortium of academic institutions and industrial partners across Europe to train researchers in planetary and astrobiology exploration, advanced instrumentation, data analysis, and transferable skills.

Applications are invited for a full‑time, fixed‑term (36 months) Doctoral Candidate role. Successful candidates will be enrolled in a PhD programme at the Universidad de Valladolid and conduct original research aligned with the scientific objectives of EXODOCS. At UVa, recruited DCs will be embedded within a leading planetary spectroscopy research group and will join the Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) science team of the ESA/ExoMars mission to Mars. They will actively contribute to rover operations, data analysis, and interpretation in preparation for the mission launch planned for 2028. Positions are expected to start in Spring 2026, subject to administrative procedures and candidate availability.

Requirements

• Hold, by the PhD start date, a Master’s degree (or equivalent). Candidates in the final stage of their Master’s studies who expect to obtain the degree before the PhD start are also eligible.
• Not have been awarded a doctoral degree.
• Be within the first four years (full‑time equivalent) of their research career at the time of recruitment, counted from the date of obtaining the relevant Master’s degree.
• Comply with the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie mobility rule: must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to recruitment.
• Be proficient in English, both written and spoken.
• Open to applicants of any nationality.

Selection Process

The evaluation process has two main stages.

• Evaluation of the Application (50%) - It is based on documentation and assessed on academic background, professional/research experience, motivation, and reference letters. Eligible applications are scored out of 50 points, with a minimum of 35/50 required to advance. The top five candidates per position may be shortlisted.
• Online Interview (50%) - Shortlisted candidates are invited to an online interview assessing scientific knowledge relevant to the project, motivation, communication skills, and capacity to conduct independent research in an international environment. The final ranking is based on the combined score from both stages (maximum 100 points). A minimum final score of 70/100 is required for recruitment. If no candidate meets this threshold, the position may be reopened. Candidates positively evaluated but not selected may be placed on a reserve list for future vacancies.

Benefits and Working Conditions

Successful candidates will receive a salary in accordance with MSCA regulations, including a generous living allowance, mobility allowance, and family allowance. They will have a full‑time employment contract for 36 months with full social security benefits under national rules.

Where to apply

E‑mail: info@exodocs.eu