The purpose of this section is to provide some basic information about the ESA Fellowship Program and to give practical guidelines to young scientists interested in applying for a Fellowship in ESA’s space science departments in the Netherlands and Spain. The ESA Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program is aimed at providing young scientists, holding a PhD or the equivalent degree, with the means of performing research in space science. The program is open to suitably qualified women and men. Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates within five years of receiving their PhD. Candidates not holding a PhD yet can also apply, but they must provide evidence of receiving their degree before starting the fellowship. Appointments for an ESA fellowship are for two years, after which Fellows normally leave ESA. The fellowship in space science is tenable at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands or at the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Villafranca del Castillo near Madrid, Spain. The Fellowship Program does not currently grant fellowships in other institutions outside of ESA.
Study Subjects and Level:
Fellowships are provided to undertake research programs covering all areas of Space Science. The Fellowships are obtainable for studying postdoctoral research program at ESA’s space science departments in the Netherlands and Spain.
Eligibility:
The fellowships are open to nationals of ESA Member States (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and to nationals of states adhering to the PECS cooperation scheme (Canada, Estonia, Hungary and Slovenia).
The ESA Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program is aimed at providing young scientists, holding a PhD or the equivalent degree, with the means of performing research in space science. The program is open to suitably qualified women and men. Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates within five years of receiving their PhD. Candidates not holding a PhD yet can also apply, but they must provide evidence of receiving their degree before starting the fellowship.
Scholarship Duration:
Appointments for an ESA fellowship are for two years, after which Fellows normally leave ESA.
Scholarship Value:
The salary of ESA fellows falls within a pre-determined range and varies depending on qualifications and experience. Average monthly net salaries (tax free) are around € 2500. Fellows may be entitled to an expatriation allowance and/or to an installation allowance if they meet the conditions of entitlement. Removal expenses are not reimbursed. Depending on their place of recruitment, fellows may be reimbursed travel expenses in economy class (when traveling by air) or in first class (when traveling by train) to their duty station for themselves and, if applicable, for their spouse and children at the beginning and end of their assignment. Fellows are enrolled in the ESA’s Social Security Scheme which covers medical expenses, invalidity and death benefits. A monthly deduction covers these short-term and long-term risks.
Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates within five years of receiving their PhD.
Notification:
Within six to eight weeks of the application deadline, candidates selected for an interview will be notified (all travel expenses are covered by ESA). Interviews will take place within two months.
How to Apply?
Candidates should produce a PDF file using the application form as a template and submit it electronically by e-mail to the address temp.htr-at-esa.int, as indicated on the form. The length of the text in sections 23, 24 and 25 of the form should not exceed the indicated limits. Also please note that, unlike other ESA fellowships, for the Fellowship in Space Science no additional material or annex such as CVs, certificates of degrees or copies of articles should be attached. The only information needed is that indicated in the application form. Candidates must also arrange for three letters of reference to be sent by e-mail, before the deadline, to the same address temp.htr-at-esa.int. The letters must be sent by the referees themselves, one of whom should be the candidate’s PhD supervisor. In the unlikely event that a letter of reference cannot be submitted electronically, it may be sent by post.
Application Deadline: 1st October 2014.
For further information: ESA Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Space Science
