The Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) offers three PhD positions in the framework of the FPI Program for  Institutes with the Excellence  Seal of the María de Maeztu program.

The three  PhDs will be embedded in one of the following generic topics as listed below.  If you know them, interested students are encouraged to reach out to any of the members of ICE, CSIC that most closely fit the intended research topic to discuss opportunities for specific topics of research. If in doubt, you can also contact either Diego F. Torres (ICE director)  or Aldo Serenelli (ICE  deputy director, aldos@ice.csic.es)  to ask about the possible matching of topics and researchers.

Applications should apply from  28 of  October to the 11th of  November directly through the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation: 

http://www.aei.gob.es/portal/site/MICINN/menuitem.dbc68b34d11ccbd5d52ffeb801432ea0/?vgnextoid=4c6c68d98570c710VgnVCM1000001d04140aRCRD&vgnextchannel=305938bc8423c710VgnVCM1000001d04140aRCRD

1) "The fabric of the universe: Using multi-disciplinary cosmological probes and gravitational waves to understand what the universe is made of and how it evolves" (ID: CEX2020-001058-M-21-1). Possible research areas within this line include extragalactic astronomy, observational and theoretical cosmology,  quantum and classical gravity, gravitational waves, and more.

2) "The extreme Universe: Understanding how matter and fields behave in extreme conditions of density and pressure, gravitational or electromagnetic forces." (ID: CEX2020-001058-M-21-2). Possible research areas within this line include: theoretical and observation astrophysics of compact objects, the nuclear matter under extreme conditions, astroparticle physics, high-energy astrophysics, and more.

3) "From star formation to life: Searching for and characterizing extrasolar Earth-like planets, understanding how they form,  and the analogy with our own planetary environment." (ID: CEX2020-001058-M-21-3). Possible research areas within this line include: star formation,  stellar physics,  exoplanet science, solar system  (minor objects, planets),  Earth observations, and more.

The  Institute of  Space Sciences counts over  20 faculty members, about  20 engineers,  about  20  post-doc fellows,  and more than a  dozen of  PhD students. ICE is part of the  "Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas" (CSIC,  the Spanish  National Research  Council). CSIC  is the largest public institution dedicated to research in   Spain and the third-largest in Europe. ICE  is also part of the Catalan Institute of Space  Studies (IEEC, Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya).   ICE is located in a  modern building on the Campus of the Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona in Bellaterra, just outside  Barcelona. The  Campus is well served by public transportation (railways and buses).

The ICE-CSIC promotes a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages women and minorities to apply.