Doctoral Candidate position (DC7) at University College London for the completion of a PhD with[...]

Organisation/Company: University College London

Department: Space & Climate Physics

Research Field: Engineering » Aerospace engineering, Astronomy

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions: PhD Positions

Application Deadline: 31 May 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/London)

Country: United Kingdom

Type of Contract: Other, adjusted to the project duration

Job Status: Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101226728

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

We are pleased to announce the opening of Doctoral Candidate (DC) position at University College London, England, to carry out PhD within the EXODOCS project. DC7 - Monitoring the dehydration of drill tailings from Martian subsurface sampling - the complete description of the research project can be found at Research – EXODOCS.

EXODOCS is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (DN) funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe programme (Grant Agreement No. 101226728). The MSCA Doctoral Network programme offers highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions.

EXODOCS brings together a multidisciplinary and intersectoral consortium of academic institutions, research centres, and industrial partners across Europe, with the common goal of training a new generation of researchers in planetary and astrobiology exploration, advanced analytical instrumentation, data analysis, and transferable skills.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for full‑time, fixed‑term positions (36 months) as Doctoral Candidates (DCs). Successful applicants will be enrolled in a PhD programme at Universidad de Valladolid and will conduct original research aligned with the scientific objectives of EXODOCS.

At UVa, the 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, actively contributing to scientific activities related to rover operations, data analysis, and interpretation in preparation for the mission launch currently planned for 2028.

The positions are expected to start in Spring 2026, subject to administrative procedures and candidate availability.

Requirements:

• Research Field: Astronomy – Astrophysics
• Research Field: Geosciences – Geology
• Research Field: Engineering – Computer engineering
• Research Field: Physics – Physics

Skills & Qualifications:

• Applicants must hold, by the starting date of the PhD, a Master’s degree (or equivalent). Candidates who are in the final stage of their Master’s studies and expect to obtain the degree before the start of the PhD are also eligible to apply.
• Applicants must not have been awarded a doctoral degree.
• At the time of recruitment by the host institution, applicants must be in the first four years (full‑time equivalent) of their research career, counted from the date of obtaining the degree that formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate.
• Applicants must comply with the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie mobility rule, meaning that they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date. Short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.
• Applicants must be proficient in English, both written and spoken.

The positions are open to applicants of any nationality.

Salary and Contract:

The MSCA DN programme offers highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions. Successful candidates will receive a salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for DCs, consisting of a generous living allowance, a mobility allowance and a family allowance. Selected candidates will have a full‑time employment contract for the duration of 3 years (36 months). The DC will be contracted according to the national rules of the country with full social security benefits.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Hold, at the time of the PhD starting date, an MSc degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Geology or related fields. Candidates who are in the final stage of their MSc studies and expect to obtain the degree before the start of the PhD are also eligible to apply.
• Have not been awarded a doctoral degree.
• At the time of recruitment by the host organisation, be in the first four years (full‑time equivalent) of your research career, counted from the date of obtaining the MSc degree (or equivalent).
• Comply with the European Commission’s mobility rule, meaning at the time of recruitment by the host organisation, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the starting employment contract date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.
• Be proficient in English language.

Selection Process:

The evaluation process is structured in two main stages:

• Step 1 – Evaluation of the Application (50%): All complete and eligible applications will be assessed by the Recruitment Committee of the corresponding Doctoral Candidate (DC) position. The evaluation is based on the submitted documentation and includes the following criteria: Academic background and performance, Professional and/or research experience, Motivation and alignment with the selected project, Reference letters. Each application will be scored out of 50 points. Only candidates obtaining a minimum score of 35/50 will be considered for the next stage. The top‑ranked candidates (up to five per position) will be shortlisted for interview.
• Step 2 – Online Interview (50%): Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview with the Recruitment Committee. The interview will assess: Scientific knowledge and understanding relevant to the project, Motivation and interest in the research topic, Communication skills and proficiency in English, Capacity to conduct independent research in an international environment.

Final Selection:

The final ranking will be based on the combined score from both stages (maximum 100 points). The candidate with the highest overall score will be offered the position. A minimum final score of 70/100 is required for recruitment. If no candidate reaches this threshold, the position may be re‑opened. Candidates who are positively evaluated but not selected may be placed on a reserve list to fill future vacancies or positions that become available.

Additional Comments:

Mobility: Researchers are required to undertake trans‑national mobility (move from one country to another). At the time of selection by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.

Work conditions: see section 4 of the "Guide for applicants".

Contact: MSSL, University College London, Holmbury St. Mary